South Sudan’s leaders have made a profit while the country suffers in a continuous cycle of civil war, according to an activist organization based in the United States.
The Sentry, an initiative led by actor George Clooney and activist John Pendergast, this week released a high profile report detailing a network of supposed corruption in South Sudan. The report is 48 pages long and says that corruption drives continued war in South Sudan. Here are the key points.
President Kiir’s family has significant business interests— The report states that the family of President Salva Kiir have large holdings in prominent companies across the country. For example, the report says that Kiir’s 12 year old son has a large stake in a holding company with significant financial value. Other children and the First Lady also have stakes in businesses, the report says. Members of President Kiir’s family have also apparently been involved in business relationships with foreign oil companies.
Lavish lifestyle’s outside of South Sudan — The children of top leaders in South Sudan have purchased houses in Kenya, Uganda, and Australia as a place to hold their wealth. Nearby in Kenya, rebel leader Riek Machar also owns a home near a home of Kiir. SPLA Chief of Staff Paul Malong owns homes in both Kenya and Uganda. Malong’s home in Kenya is estimated to be worth $2 million USD.
Government officials have significant business stakes — The Sentry report says that prominent military officials including Malong, General Malek Reuben Riak and Kiir’s brother-in-law Major General Gregory Dimitry own businesses in the private sector that include top banks, oil companies, and investment firms. It says that many of these businesses conducted shady practices and were engaged in corruption.
What is to be done? The report says that targeted financial sanctions should be placed on South Sudan’s top leaders, and travel bans should also be put in place to stop the flow of corruption in the country. The United States has threatened sanctions on top leaders, but has not followed through.
The full report is available at thesentry.org.
File photo: John Prendergast (left) with actor George Clooney (right)