JUBA – South Sudan government on Monday condemned what it calls ‘an international campaign’ against the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit dismissing a report by the United Nations in which the world body accused the country’s political elites of looting millions of dollars from public coppers.
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan said a huge amount of money and other wealth amounting to more than $73 million has been looted by political leaders since the signing of the revitalized peace agreement in 2018 with almost $39 million being stolen in a period of less than two months.
“This plundering also continues to fuel political competition amongst elites, and is a key driver of the ongoing conflict, violations and serious crimes, jeopardising the prospects for sustainable peace,” the commission said in a report presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on September 23.
However, South Sudan government hit back on Monday with US-sanctioned minister of cabinet affairs Martin Elia Lomuro, blaming ‘an international campaign’ against the government of President Salva Kiir in Juba.
“These are the organisations that are sponsored not to see political stability in South Sudan and they will move from one thing to the other, from human rights to corruption, from corruption to something else,” Lomuro told the AFP news agency.
“This country is sovereign … if the government has mismanaged anything, it’s only the people of South Sudan who can hold this government accountable, not external forces.”
The tile “South Sudan condemns international campaign against Kiir’s Government” is wrong, the title should have been South Sudan club of looters condemns International campaign against Kiir’s government. The so-called leaders in South Sudan are nothing, but a bunch of thieves presiding over satanic thievery of the national wealth.