UN Report Reveals 1.7 Billion Paid For Unbuilt Roads In South Sudan
South Sudan: $1.7 Billion Paid for Unbuilt Roads Amid Starving Population
JUBA – A new report from UN investigators, cited by Reuters and Al Jazeera, reveals that South Sudan’s officials have engaged in a massive corruption scheme, siphoning billions of dollars for personal gain while the majority of the population faces severe hunger.
The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan stated that the country “has been captured by a venal elite who steal and launder public funds in a systematic and institutionalized manner for personal gain.” The report highlights that since its independence in 2011, South Sudan’s average per capita income has dropped to a quarter of its original value, and two-thirds of its citizens are suffering from hunger.
Road-Building Scheme Exposed
The UN investigation, covering the period from 2021 to 2024, uncovered illicit payments, including $1.7 billion paid for roads that were never built. These payments were reportedly made to road construction companies with ties to Bol Mel, who was appointed Vice President of South Sudan earlier this year.
In response to similar allegations, the United States previously imposed sanctions on Bol Mel and two of his companies. However, according to the report, a recent request was made to the Trump administration to lift these sanctions during ongoing discussions.
The report claims that from 2021 to 2024, the South Sudanese government paid over $2.2 billion to companies allegedly connected to Bol Mel. The “Oil for Roads” program, which was intended to use oil revenue for road construction, at one point accounted for 60% of the government’s total payments.
The UN report details how Bol Mel’s companies would inflate the length of road contracts, charging exorbitant fees while only completing less than $500 million worth of work.
Institutionalized Corruption and Starvation
Since gaining independence, South Sudan has earned an estimated $23 billion from oil sales, but only a small portion of this wealth has been used for public benefit. The report provides a stark example: in the 2022/23 fiscal year, the budget allocated for the president’s health department alone was greater than the entire national health system budget.
In their official response to the UN, South Sudan’s Ministry of Justice dismissed the report, stating that the findings do not align with the government’s records or the country’s economic challenges and declining oil sales.
The UN report, however, concludes that corruption is actively killing the people of South Sudan. It suggests that the payments exposed are only a fraction of the total corruption. With 76 out of 79 areas in the country facing severe hunger, the report found that only a minimal amount of funds were allocated to address this crisis, further underscoring that corruption has become institutionalized.
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