The State Anti-Corruption Commission in Central Equatoria says it will deploy 17 officers to help combat corruption in local government.

On Friday, 17 anti-corruption officers were trained by the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization graduated in Juba.

They will be deployed after Easter Holiday to the six counties of CES, Juba City Council and the Yei Municipality.

They are targeting local government because it is where there is a high rate of corruption, Emmanuel Richard Khamis, Chairperson of State Anti-Corruption Commission, told Eye Radio.

The officials have received training on tracking, monitoring and investigation skills.

“Once they are deployed to the counties, they will definitely minimize high chances of corruption that has been prevailing at the local government level,” said Mr Khamis.

Honorable Khamis said some examples of corruption that occur at the local government include the disappearance of constituency development funds and the county development grants.

Generally, corruption is said to be rampant in South Sudan.

Since the inception of the government in 2005, over $4 billion of state funds have gone unaccounted for, according to President Salva Kiir.