By Yiep Joseph
Members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) have applauded President Salva Kiir Mayardit for what party leaders described as decisive action against corruption in South Sudan.
Speaking during the opening of a three-day expanded meeting of SPLM members in Central Equatoria State, the party’s Secretary-General, Akol Paul Kordit, said the movement is determined to confront corruption and other challenges.
“We are here to liberate ourselves from hunger, from poverty, from illiteracy, and from tribalism,” Akol told party members.
“We are here to defeat corruption, and this movement must stand against those evils.”
He urged members to support the SPLM chairman, President Kiir, for his efforts to crack down on suspected corrupt officials.
“I ask you to stand up and applaud the chairman of the SPLM for his efforts to fight corruption,” he said.
The Vice President and First Deputy Chairperson of the SPLM, James Wani Igga, also called on citizens to reject corruption and violence.
“Corruption will not end until the people reject it. Violence will not end until the people reject it,” Igga said.
He urged South Sudanese to abandon revenge and instead promote forgiveness and peaceful coexistence, stressing that the fight against corruption requires collective responsibility from all citizens.
The remarks by SPLM leaders come amid a recent wave of arrests and detentions of senior officials in South Sudan as authorities intensify investigations into alleged corruption and misuse of public funds.
Earlier this month, former Commissioner-General of the South Sudan Revenue Authority, Simon Akuei Deng, surrendered to the National Security Service in Juba for questioning over alleged corruption.
Reports also indicate that former finance minister Dr. Bak Barnaba Chol and other senior government figures have been detained as part of the expanding crackdown on alleged financial misconduct within state institutions.
Analysts said the arrests represent one of the most significant anti-corruption operations in recent years, targeting current and former officials accused of mismanaging public resources.
Corruption has long been a major challenge for South Sudan. International watchdogs and governance reports have repeatedly ranked the country among the most corrupt globally, citing weak institutions and limited accountability mechanisms.
Government officials said the ongoing crackdown demonstrates the leadership’s commitment to restoring accountability and strengthening public confidence in state institutions.