South Sudan government reacted to the recent report by the watchdog group The Sentry alleging links between global corporations, tycoons and governments and rampant corruption in South Sudan.
The 64-page report — “The Taking of South Sudan” — accuses multinational corporations and individuals of being “war profiteers” complicit with South Sudanese politicians and military officials in “ravaging the world’s newest nation.”
Speaking to reporters on Friday, South Sudan’s Information minister, Michael Makuei said the report alleging that South Sudan President Salva Kiir and his family own stakes in banks, foreign exchange bureaus, airlines, oil companies and private security companies among others, mainly through partnerships with investors from across the globe is a “concoction”.
According to Makuei, the report is targeting the family of President Salva Kiir.
“Let’s call a spade a spade. It is targeting the family of the president and it is something planned to coincide with current developments,” Makuei said.
The report also accuses Dar Petroleum Corp, the largest multinational oil consortium in South Sudan — led by a Chinese state-owned oil company — of providing “direct support to deadly militias.”
The Sentry called on the United States and European Union to target those involved in corruption and their networks with new and tougher sanctions.
“What they [The Sentry] wrote there and the drawing they did is nothing other than the family of the president. All the companies they mentioned ended up in the family of president, the first lady, daughter and the son and this is something coordinated,” Makuei said.
“These are people who are against peace in South Sudan. They will never celebrate our peace, instead they will mourn it,” he added.