Press Secretary in the Office of the President, Lilly Martin Manyiel response to the Sentry Report - Credit:Moses Awan/Eye Radio March 1, 2023

The Press Secretary in the Office of the President has issued a government response to The Sentry’s December 2022 publication about corruption within the national security service and demanded the document’s immediate withdrawal from circulation.

Lilly Martin Manyiel’s response comes three months after the Sentry report on December 8^th, 2022 exposed the National Security Service’s control over key sectors of the country, ranging from media to natural resources.

The report titled: “Undercover Activities-Inside the National Security’s Profitable Playbook” detailed how the NSS has infiltrated almost every aspect of life in South Sudan.

It alleged that the NSS played a critical role in the capture of public institutions and revenue streams in South Sudan.

The Sentry said that corporate records which its reviewed, reveal a vast network of companies with NSS shareholders across key sectors.

These key sectors include the economic sector, financial sector, oil sector, and media sector.

It alleged that some senior national security officers are shareholders in some of these important sectors.

The report also alleged that National Security is protecting those commercial interests through surveillance, repression, and extreme brutality.

The report was described by the Internal Security Bureau as false and inaccurate allegations against its individuals and the work of the National Security.

“The National Security Service of South Sudan rejects the allegations contained in the Sentry Report…. published in December 2022,” said David John Kumuri, Director of Public Relations at the NSS.

In a response, the Press Secretary in the Office of the President said the report purported to be a fact-based document with commentary that has been widely disseminated internationally contains deliberate false and misleading allegations.

“The intended recipients of the false and misleading information published by The Sentry are international agencies such as the United Nations and its satellite organizations,” Lilly said.

“The Sentry is a US based organization that seeks targeted sanctions and seizure of assets to cause harm to the sustainability and economic development of the Republic of South Sudan,

The President’s Press Secretary went on to say The Sentry has misrepresented South Sudan’s laws for companies and misled its readers by citing dormant companies as actively trading.

According to her, a forensic review of the evidence reveals allegations that were based upon incorrectly interpreted and out-of-date information obtained through a serious data breach.

The Press Secretary further says the report was based upon flawed methodology, using second-hand hearsay including click-bait and newspaper articles, self-referential material and anonymous sources.

She said the government of South Sudan is aware that a significant number of individuals named in the report have issued letters of complaint to The Sentry, providing corrective information.

“In one instance for example, no substantive information was cited to underpin the most serious of recommendations, namely the sanctioning of a named individual, Mr. Jalpan Obyce, whose reputation has now been tarnished.”

Speaking during a press conference on behalf of the government this evening, Lillian demanded the Sentry to apologize to individuals, companies or entities that have been named in the report.