Africa-Press – South-Sudan. JUBA — South Sudan authorities on Monday dismissed as “fabricated” a document circulating on social media that allegedly links senior government officials and members of the president’s family to a wide-ranging corruption network.
The document, titled “Investigation Committee Leak Report: Bol Mel Electronic Diary,” surfaced online over the weekend and purports to detail financial transactions tied to businessman Benjamin Bol Mel, a figure previously linked to corruption investigations.
According to the document, large sums of money were allegedly distributed to dozens of individuals, including senior government officials, military officers, and relatives of President Salva Kiir.
The figures cited range from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars, with some entries also referencing property purchases abroad.
However, speaking at a press conference in Juba on Monday, Abraham Telar, a member of the government’s investigation and prosecution committee handling corruption cases, rejected the document outright.
“This material is a total fabrication and is categorized as a baseless work of fiction,” Telar said. “The committee maintains no record of the electronic diary or specific financial claims referenced in the circulating material.”
The committee said the document lacked official authentication features such as letterheads, serial numbers, and secure dissemination protocols, describing it as inconsistent with standard government reporting procedures.
Telar characterized the report as part of a “coordinated disinformation campaign” intended to damage reputations and interfere with ongoing legal processes.
The document’s circulation has fueled speculation online, as it names prominent figures and outlines alleged transactions involving millions of dollars, including claims of payments to senior political figures and security officials.
Sudans Post could not independently verify the authenticity of the document or the claims it contains.
Justice Minister Michael Makuei Lueth also warned media outlets and the public against sharing unverified information, saying authorities could take legal action under the country’s Cybersecurity and Computer Crimes Act.
“The social media is not meant for anybody to misuse. It is meant to be used for the benefit of the users, but not to be abused and misused. As you know very well, we have passed the Cybersecurity and Computer Crimes Act,” the minister said.
“It is now operational. And as I announced earlier, we are capable of tracing whatever you put in the social media, and we are capable of tracing that person and we’ll get hold of him. So our advice to you is that make proper use of the social media. Make the correct use of the social media. Don’t abuse the usage of the social media, because at the end of the day, you will find yourself in conflict with the law,” he added.
Makuei defended the ongoing detention of several individuals linked to corruption cases, saying legal procedures had been followed and investigations were still underway. The senior government official also questioned the widespread public interest in these high-profile detentions.
“This case is a case like other cases. There are so many South Sudanese who are in the custody here in Juba. Why are people not talking about them? When we arrest some individuals for cases that are charged or charges leveled against them, then people begin to complain,” Makuei said.
“There is a misinterpretation of the provisions of the constitution itself. We are in charge of curtailing the freedom of movement and residence for those people who are arrested. Freedom of movement? Yeah, you are free when you are not an accused,” he added.
Authorities did not indicate whether the circulating document would prompt any new investigations, but reiterated that official findings would only be released through formal government channels.
The controversy comes amid heightened public attention on corruption allegations involving senior officials in South Sudan, where calls for transparency and accountability have grown in recent years.
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