(JUBA) – U.N. investigators have accused South Sudanese authorities of misusing state funds, including payments of $1.7 billion (SSP 12.07 trillion) to companies linked to Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel for road projects that were largely unfinished.
The report by the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan highlights widespread corruption affecting the country’s economy. Since independence in 2011, South Sudan’s GDP per capita has fallen to a quarter of its initial level.
The commission said a small elite has captured the country’s wealth. For example, annual funding for the Presidential Medical Unit exceeds total national health spending.
Justice Minister Joseph Geng rejected the report, saying the figures were inaccurate. He cited conflict, climate change, and falling oil sales, South Sudan’s main export, as reasons for economic challenges. A spokesperson for Bol Mel declined to comment.
South Sudan has faced repeated armed conflict since 2011, including a civil war from 2013 to 2018 that killed an estimated 400,000 people. Recent months have seen renewed clashes tied to political rivalries, including accusations of crimes against humanity against First Vice President Riek Machar.
The country is also facing cuts in foreign aid. The U.N. report noted corruption as a key factor behind ongoing hunger, with nearly eight million people, around two-thirds of the population, experiencing extreme hunger or worse.
The report is based on 173 interviews, government documents, and financial data collected between late 2022 and late 2024. It concluded that corruption has weakened the government’s ability to meet human rights obligations and contributed to armed conflict.
South Sudan’s “Oil for Roads” programme, which uses oil revenue for road construction, is a major concern. Between 2021 and 2024, the government paid an estimated $2.2 billion (SSP 15.62 trillion) to companies linked to Bol Mel. In some years, this programme consumed around 60 percent of government spending.
Despite these payments, the companies completed less than $500 million (SSP 3.55 trillion) worth of usable roads. Contract values were reportedly inflated, lanes were fewer than planned, and road lengths shorter. Two of the companies cited had faced U.S. sanctions. Bol Mel has not publicly responded.
Overall, of the $23 billion (SSP 163.3 trillion) generated from oil exports since independence, little has been spent on education, healthcare, or food security. For example, the 2022-2023 budget allocated more to the Presidential Medical Unit than to all public healthcare services nationwide.
Minister Geng pointed to anti-corruption laws passed before independence and in July 2024 as proof of the government’s commitment to fight corruption. Government officials have not specifically addressed the issue of public spending priorities.
The U.N. report warns that South Sudanese elites continue to compete for resources and power, exploiting ethnic divisions and undermining the state’s ability to serve its citizens.
South Sudan Oil Revenue and Road Spending Summary (2021–2024)
| Item | Amount (USD) | Amount (SSP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Oil Revenue Since Independence (2011) | $23,000,000,000 | SSP 163,300,000,000,000 | Revenue from crude oil exports |
| Payments to VP-Linked Companies (Oil for Roads) | $2,200,000,000 | SSP 15,620,000,000,000 | Over 4 years (2021–2024) |
| Completed Roads Value | $500,000,000 | SSP 3,550,000,000,000 | Actual usable roads delivered |
| Unspent / Misused Funds in Program | $1,700,000,000 | SSP 12,070,000,000,000 | Payments for roads not built / inflated contracts |
| Annual “Oil for Roads” Spending Share | – | – | Up to 60% of government spending in some years |
| Population Facing Extreme Hunger | – | – | ~8 million people (~2/3 of population) |
The report makes it very clear:
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Most of the funds paid to VP linked companies did not result in usable roads.
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Oil revenue of $23 billion (SSP 163.3 trillion) has not substantially improved services like healthcare, education, or food security.
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The discrepancy between payments and results underlines the corruption highlighted in the U.N. report.
Note: All SSP to USD conversions are calculated using the market rate of $1 = SSP 7,100. Official rates set by the central bank may vary.