South Sudan’s USD 200 Million Heist – Top Officials Implicated in Massive Corruption Scandal

In a staggering exposé, South Sudan’s Finance Minister Marial Dongrin and South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) Commissioner General Simon Akuei Deng stand accused of masterminding a USD 200 million embezzlement scheme, plunging the world’s youngest nation deeper into a crisis of corruption and betrayal.

Sources reveal a meticulously planned operation to siphon public funds into private accounts, leaving South Sudanese citizens to bear the devastating consequences.

The Scheme Unveiled

The scandal centers on a directive issued by the SSRA on February 10, 2025, ordering Nile Commercial Bank to transfer 30 billion South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) from government coffers into a so-called “retention account.”

Signed by Deng and SSRA official Paul Ajok Garang, the plan outlined monthly transfers—2 billion SSP in the first half and 1 billion SSP in the second—set to run through November 2025.

The first transfer, executed on February 17, 2025, saw 2 billion SSP moved from the SSRA’s block account (No. 0010172191) to a retention account (No. 5591058493) at a separate bank, approved by Nile Commercial Bank supervisor Lina Emmanuel Mama Jamus.

This move, however, appears to flout South Sudan’s Financial Act, which mandates that all collected taxes be deposited directly into the national treasury for transparent allocation.

At the official exchange rate of 1 USD = 560 SSP, 30 billion SSP equates to roughly USD 53.57 million—far less than the alleged USD 200 million heist—raising questions about additional unreported transactions or misreported figures.

At the market rate of 1 USD = 1,500 SSP, the sum drops to USD 20 million, further complicating the financial trail.

A Life of Luxury Amid Poverty

While South Sudan grapples with crumbling infrastructure and widespread poverty, the accused officials are allegedly living extravagantly.

Simon Akuei Deng, recently appointed SSRA Commissioner General in November 2024, is said to have married two teenage wives—16-year-old Obote Mit Kamin and 14-year-old There Mit Ndi—and resides in a Ksh 50 million (approximately USD 387,000) mansion on Convent Drive in Nairobi.

Deng is also linked to ARC Construction, a company embroiled in a scandal over the Bor-Juba Road project, where costs reportedly ballooned from USD 200 million to USD 5 billion—a claim under scrutiny but indicative of broader mismanagement.

Finance Minister Marial Dongrin, meanwhile, allegedly spent Ksh 240 million (USD 1.86 million) last month on four luxury properties in Nairobi’s Lavington neighborhood, each valued at Ksh 60 million.

Sources claim he charters private jets every weekend to his home village at a cost of USD 35,000 per trip, a stark contrast to the nation’s struggling public services.

Systemic Corruption Exposed

The allegations align with a long-standing pattern of corruption in South Sudan, repeatedly flagged by the United Nations and Transparency International.

The country ranks 177 out of 180 on the Corruption Perception Index, with political elites accused of diverting millions from public coffers.

The Bor-Juba Road project, spanning roughly 120 km, exemplifies this: while comparable projects suggest a cost of USD 213.6 million, the reported USD 5 billion expenditure points to potential graft, with Deng’s ARC ties raising red flags.

The fallout is dire. Hospitals lack basic supplies, schools deteriorate, and infrastructure projects stall, while the elite amass wealth abroad.

The UN has warned that such corruption undermines human rights and stability, with non-oil revenue—meant to fund development—routinely misappropriated.

A Nation Demands Answers

The discrepancy between the reported 30 billion SSP and the claimed USD 200 million heist suggests either additional transfers or an error in the initial tip.

Investigations are ongoing, with calls for accountability growing louder. “This isn’t just theft—it’s a betrayal of every South Sudanese citizen,” said a local activist, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns.

The involvement of Nile Commercial Bank and its staff, alongside the SSRA and Ministry of Finance, points to a broader network.

Yet, in a nation where justice is elusive, skepticism remains about whether those responsible will face consequences.

What’s Next?

As South Sudan’s government remains silent, international pressure mounts for transparency.

The US has previously sanctioned ARC Construction for corruption, and experts urge further scrutiny of Dongrin and Deng’s financial dealings.

For now, the people of South Sudan are left with a broken system and a looted treasury—waiting for answers that may never come.