UN Report Accuses South Sudan Officials of Stealing Billions in Oil Revenue

TDT | JUBA

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Government officials in South Sudan have allegedly siphoned off billions of dollars in oil revenue since the country gained independence in 2011, according to a United Nations report released on Tuesday.

The report, issued by the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan on behalf of the UN Human Rights Council, states that the government received $25.2 billion in oil inflows during this period, yet “hardly any money reaches essential services” such as health and education in one of the world’s poorest nations.

“Our report tells the story of the plundering of a nation,” said Yasmin Sooka, chair of the commission. She added that this corruption has exacerbated hunger, collapsed health systems, caused preventable deaths, and fueled deadly armed conflicts over resources.

The report highlights widespread government corruption, particularly through the “Oil for Roads” programme, a major development initiative intended to improve infrastructure. Between 2021 and 2024, the programme received $2.2 billion in oil revenue, but $1.7 billion remains unaccounted for, with roads either incomplete, overpriced, or built below promised standards.

According to the report, funds were channeled through construction companies owned by Benjamin Bol Mel, who has recently emerged as a potential successor to President Salva Kiir, rising to the position of vice-president in February. The UN report comes just a day after Bol Mel announced on X that he had been promoted to the rank of general in the National Security Service.

Carlos Castresana Fernandez, a member of the rights commission, emphasized the human toll of the corruption: “The diversions are not abstract budget failures – they translate into preventable deaths, widespread malnutrition, and mass exclusion from education. South Sudan’s international partners must make clear that this situation is unacceptable.”