By Jacob Achiek

BOR, 22 February 2016 [Gurtong] –  As such, it involves the improper and unlawful behaviour of public-service officials, both politicians and civil servants, whose positions create opportunities for the diversion of money and assets from government to themselves and their accomplices.
 
A new report by a United States-based international organisation has blamed the government of South Sudan under President Salva Kiir for mismanaging the country’s affairs resulting to crisis in the world’s youngest nation.

“South Sudan’s economic and political crises are exacerbating each other, and the population is paying dearly. These interlocking crises and the gross mismanagement of resources by the government have undermined prospects for international support,” said John Prendergast, Founding Director of the Enough Project.

Today, South Sudan is receiving pressure, both from its citizens and international donors, to ensure that the right measures are put in place to combat the menace of corruption.

While speaking to an artist in Jonglei’s State capital Bor, t by the name, Thiong Lual Thiong also known as Nyanpaleu said that corruption continuous to be a global menace and South Sudan has a long way to go before it can be eradicated.

Thiong says that corruption permeates all sectors of the economy and all levels of the State apparatus and manifests itself through various forms, including along tribal lines.

He also says that for those who are corrupt especially those in public posts they do not feel the effect that the citizens of the country do.

Of recent commodities in the market have tripled some have even quadrupled leaving the citizens struggling to survive.

With this, Thiong says that one of the resons as to why corruption has become the order of the day for everyone who gets into power is to help their families. It has almost become a normal thing in South Sudan.

“If I am appointed as an executive, I can simply adapt corruption by promoting my own relatives and other members of my community so that they can have a better future. Yes this is the system of today and this system is affecting the local people,” he said.

Thiong is a musician. He says songs that condemn corruption do not really make any difference as nobody really cares much to listen to them and make a change.

“There is no way I can fight it (corruption) as a musician. I have composed so many songs about corruption but how can I fight it. The people just listen to my messages but there is no way for them to stop corrupt people,” he said.

“We musicians we are tired of corruption issues in the nation,” he said.

South Sudan gained independence amidst great hope. The citizens of the world’s newest nation voted with one voice in support of independence.  Goodwill from the international community brought significant development assistance.

South Sudan was expected to quickly transition to self-reliance. But instead it plunged into civil war, grand corruption that has led to an economic collapse, and now conflict and corruption is minimizing the effectiveness of foreign investments and humanitarian donation.