UN Report Accuses South Sudan Leaders of Systemic “Pillage of the Nation”
JUBA, South sudan – A newly released united Nations report delivers a scathing indictment of South Sudan’s leadership, accusing the country’s elites of orchestrating a systematic “pillage of the nation” that has fueled a devastating humanitarian and security crisis. The UN Commission on Human rights in South Sudan, in a report published Tuesday, September 16, leveled accusations including “rapace predation,” “violent competition,” and “deliberate negligence of the rights and well-being of current and future generations.”
The examination points to rampant corruption as the primary driver of the suffering endured by 13.4 million South Sudanese,with 9.3 million - 69.4% of the population – now requiring humanitarian aid to survive. The crisis unfolds against a backdrop of immense oil wealth, with South Sudan generating $25.2 billion in oil-related revenue between its independence in 2011 and December 2024, comprised of $23 billion in petroleum income and $2.2 billion in oil-backed loans. This substantial income starkly contrasts with the nation’s annual parliamentary budget, averaging $1 billion (approximately 850,000 euros) between 2020 and 2024, according to the Commission.
The report highlights how elites in power are allegedly prioritizing control over the country’s revenues, 90% of wich are derived from oil exploitation, at the expense of the population’s basic needs and long-term progress.
