UN Report Links Corruption to Human Rights Crisis in South Sudan

The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has released a report indicating that rampant corruption among the nation’s political leaders is significantly contributing to a growing human rights crisis. The commission’s findings outline how schemes such as the “Oil for Roads” initiative have enabled senior officials to misallocate over $2.2 billion in public funds, diverting resources from essential services while the quality of road construction remains subpar or incomplete.

According to the report, billions in oil and non-oil revenues have been siphoned off into illicit contracts and elite networks. This systemic corruption has left millions of South Sudanese citizens struggling to access basic necessities like food, healthcare, and education. The commission highlighted that funding directed to politically connected units, such as the President’s Medical Unit, has, at times, surpassed the budget allocated for the entire national health system.

Barney Afako, a commissioner for the UN, expressed serious concerns, stating, “Instead of directing national wealth toward serving the population, the country’s political leaders have systematically diverted both oil and non-oil revenues, through corruption and unaccountable schemes entrenched throughout government.”

In response, South Sudanese officials have disputed these allegations, claiming that the current crisis is primarily a result of climate change, ongoing conflict, and a reduction in oil revenues. They argue that international reports often exaggerate the extent of corruption while neglecting the reforms being implemented to address these issues.

The UN Commission pointed to the government’s failure to conduct independent audits or take meaningful steps to cancel or renegotiate opaque contracts as significant red flags. In light of these findings, the commission has recommended adopting comprehensive transparency measures, redirecting state spending to essential services, and ensuring protections for journalists and civil society actors who document abuses.

Concerns regarding corruption in South Sudan are not new. In March 2023, a UN report raised alarms about the humanitarian impacts of the ongoing crisis. The commission has previously warned about how systemic looting undermines the rule of law and fosters a culture of impunity. The latest report builds on this narrative, explicitly linking corruption to widespread human rights violations.

At a press conference held in Nairobi, the commission emphasized that the ramifications of corruption are recognized as violations under international law, as well as by the African Union and the UN Security Council. The report reiterated South Sudan’s obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to utilize “maximum available resources” to uphold basic human rights for its citizens.

The situation in South Sudan continues to evolve, with the international community closely monitoring the government’s actions in response to these serious allegations.