South Sudan says Clooney’s corruption report is ‘rubbish’

Juba, South Sudan | AFP |

A report commissioned by actor-activist George Clooney alleging massive corruption and war profiteering by leaders of South Sudan, the world’s newest nation, is “completely rubbish”, the government said Tuesday.

A spokesman for President Salva Kiir said the report released in Washington at a high-profile press conference headed by Clooney was “misleading” and ill-intentioned.

The result of a two-year inquiry, the report details how Kiir and his former deputy turned rebel leader Riek Machar — who is currently in Khartoum receiving medical treatment — profited largely from a three-year conflict that has driven 2.5 million people from their homes and left half the population dependent on food aid to survive.

The “key catalyst” of the war was “competition for the grand prize — control over state assets and the country’s abundant natural resources,” notably its oil, it said.

“The report itself is completely rubbish,” said Wek. “Yes, there is corruption in South Sudan but this report has fallen short of detailing the corruption.”

 ‘Politically motivated’ 

He said its real aim was to undermine the regime. “The report is misleading, it is politically motivated to tarnish the personality of President Kiir.”

The government may decide to make a legal challenge, hiring a legal firm in the US, he added.

Clooney charged that South Sudan’s warring leaders and their cronies have amassed fortunes, including foreign properties and stakes in international firms, while prosecuting a murderous conflict.

Top officials’ families “often live in multi-million-dollar mansions outside the country, stay in five-star hotels, reap the benefits of what appears to be a system of nepotism and shady corporate deals, and drive around in luxury cars,” the report said.

A spokesman for Machar denied the allegations, saying “the house he’s staying in is being paid using the money contributed by the members of the movement.”

The report “is a baseless lie,” said Dickson Gatluak.

The inquiry was carried out by The Sentry, a watchdog group founded by Clooney and rights activist John Prendergast.

After presenting its results, Clooney and actor Don Cheadle stopped by at the White House to discuss South Sudan with President Barack Obama.

The United Nations is currently seeking to beef up its peace-keeping effort to protect civilians and aid workers due to a new flare-up in fighting.

After decades of fighting, South Sudan became independent in 2011. The latest bout of bloodshed erupted in December 2013 when Kiir accused former deputy Machar of plotting a coup. UN experts have blamed both camps for reigniting the fighting.