The research group, the Enough Project, says the government of South Sudan is not doing enough to tackle corruption.

But the Office of the President says it is the international community which is not helping.

It says President Salva Kiir recently called for global support to recover assets stolen by South Sudanese leaders and deposited into foreign bank accounts.

In a statement, John Prendergast of the Enough Project said this was not the first time President Kiir has expressed a desire to tackle corruption by his government officials.

He said there has been no effective follow up, leaving the situation unchanged and the stolen assets in the hands of those who stole them.

However, the office of the president says the President has expressed zero tolerance to corruption several times.

It says that the international community has not done enough to support the government in fighting corruption, particularly the 4-billion-dollar scandal involving 75 officials.

“The international community did not help President Salva Kiir seek into it that the money stolen is returned,” said Ateny Wek, presidential press secretary.

The Enough Project says the government should issue an official request for global assistance in asset recovery, specifically to the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Kenya.

Mr Prendergast said this was necessary if South Sudan is to get global support for asset recovery.

The statement comes after the high court sentenced to life in prison, 16 individuals convicted of playing a role in the loss of more than 14 million US dollars and 30 million pounds from the office of the President.