The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has issued a damning assessment of the country’s leadership, attributing a severe human rights crisis to pervasive corruption that has siphoned off billions of dollars from public funds. The report, released during a press conference in Nairobi, details how misappropriated funds have severely impacted the access to food, healthcare, and education for millions of South Sudanese citizens.

According to the commission, initiatives like “Oil for Roads” have become conduits for corruption. Over $2.2 billion was funneled to entities associated with high-ranking officials under this program, with the resulting infrastructure either substandard or unfinished. The investigation highlights that both oil and non-oil revenue streams have been systematically redirected into the pockets of the elite, bypassing essential public services.

The report also casts a spotlight on the disproportionate allocation of funds to politically connected groups. Notably, the President’s Medical Unit received more funding than the national health system's entire budget. Commissioner Barney Afako emphasized, “Instead of directing national wealth toward serving the population, the country’s political leaders have systematically diverted funds through corruption and unaccountable schemes entrenched throughout the government.”

In response, South Sudanese officials have contested these findings, attributing the humanitarian crisis to factors such as climate change, ongoing conflicts, and fluctuating oil revenues. They claim that the international community has overstated the corruption issues and ignored the government's efforts at reform.

However, the UN Commission criticized the government's failure to implement independent audits or to reevaluate non-transparent contracts. It urged the government to adopt comprehensive transparency measures, redirect state spending to crucial services, and ensure the protection of journalists and civil society members who report on these abuses.

This report builds on previous UN concerns regarding the corruption in South Sudan. Earlier reports have similarly linked malfeasance to severe humanitarian and legal consequences, emphasizing the erosion of the rule of law and the culture of impunity that has taken hold.

The commission’s findings reiterate the obligations of South Sudan under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which requires the government to utilize the “maximum available resources” to fulfill its citizens' basic human rights. The report underlines that failures in governance in South Sudan are not just administrative flaws but also grave violations under international law recognized by both the African Union and the UN Security Council.