South Sudan dismisses Sentry corruption report as ‘nonsense’

JUBA – South Sudan government on Friday dismissed as ‘nonsense’ a report by The Sentry recently which stated that weak financial system in Kenya is allowing corrupt South Sudan government officials to steal public funds while citizens are starving to death.

Speaking to reporters following a weekly cabinet meeting on Friday, information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth said the report is unfounded and is authored by people he said have turned against the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

“Sentry Group is a group that was working with us and when we fell [out] with them they turned against us and they are writing all sorts of nonsense about us which cannot in any way proven to be right,’’ he said.

“They avoid us then they go and write outside. These reports are unfounded and biased because some of these writers have been with us. We were working with them and we know the reason why we fell out,” he added.

According to the recent Sentry report, Kenya has a weak financial system that can guard the real estate sector which makes it easy for South Sudan corrupt government officials to invest their ill-gotten money.

“South Sudanese politically exposed persons (PEPs), responsible for the conflict have infiltrated Kenyan banking, real estate, trade, defence, and corporate enterprises with their ill-gotten gains,” the Sentry said.

“Kenya is a destination country for illicit South Sudanese funds, which have been moved into Kenya using Kenyan corporate structures, luxury properties, and banks. Arms and munitions have also transited through Kenya into South Sudan,” the report added.