A cartoon depicting controversies that previously marred the Juba-Bahr El Ghazal Highway construction. (Credit: Adija Acuil).

Majority of South Sudanese online believe there is a strong link between corruption in public offices and the rampant removal of government officials, according to a new Eye Radio survey.

70.7% of respondents in the online public opinion poll believe there is a strong relationship between the frequent dismissal of civil servants and corruption within the civil service in South Sudan.

Only 28.2% of the respondents disagree, and 1.1% of respondents do not explicitly agree or disagree.

Moreover, 67% of the people who took the surveys say the fear of losing one’s job drives them to steal public money they have access to in case they are sacked through a Republican decree.

“Because of job insecurity, senior government officials are always worried about losing their jobs; therefore, they concentrate on making money as much as possible since they can be out anytime. An appointment is often taken as an opportunity to eat or steal, for lack of better language,” said one respondent.

“When someone acquires the position and feels like being dismissed at any time, he or she may use any means to practice malpractice or corruption,” said another respondent.

“Most officials know that they won’t last in their position and that they won’t fulfill their agendas in their position; hence, they result in the embezzlement of funds since they know their job is not secure.”

Meanwhile, some respondents argue that since many officials are brought in by lobbyists and not through competitive processes, they end up feeling insecure in the job.

“Many civil servants acquire jobs through corrupt means, and any possible transfer in appointing authority causes job insecurity,” said one of the sources.

Since 2011 to date, South Sudan has had 10 ministers of finance and economic planning – the current of whom is Dr. Barnaba Baak Chol who was appointed on August 3, 2023.

The former finance ministers include:

1. David Deng Athorbie from July 9, 2011 to August 26, 2011.

2. Kosti Manibe Ngai from August 26 to July 23, 2013.

3. Aggrey Tisa Sabuni from July 31, 2013 to January 11, 2015

4. David Deng Athorbie was re-appointed on January 12, 2015, to April 28, 2016.

5. Stephen Dhieu Dau from April 28, 2016, to March 12, 2018.

6. Salvatore Garang, from March 12, 2018, to September 16, 2020

7. Asian Ding Athian from September 16, 2020, to November 12, 2021

8. Agak Achuil Lual from November 12, 2021, to August 12, 2022

9. Dier Tong Ngor from August 4, 2022, to August 3, 2023, specifically 1 year in the office

In the same period, the Bank of South Sudan has had nine Central Bank governors.

These were late Elijah Malok Aleng, Kornelio Koriom Mayiek, Othom Rago Ajak, Dier Tong Ngor, Gamal Abdalla Wani, Dier Tong Ngor, Moses Makur Deng, Johnny Ohisa, and James Alic Garang, who is the current Central Bank governor.

Similarly, the national oil firm Nile Petroleum Corporation (NilePet) has seen four managing directors since its establishment.

These are Dr. Chol Deng Thon Abel, who was appointed in September 2017 and replaced by Bol Ring Mourwel Kon, who again dethroned with Dr. Chol Deng Thon Abel, up to the current Managing Director Eng. Bernard Amuor Makeny.

95.8% of respondents strongly believe a lack of job stability in senior government jobs affects the country’s long-term plans, policies, and implementation.

They recommend that the executive should promote job stability to reduce corruption and facilitate long-term planning within the government for the benefit of the general public.

They recommend that the executive should promote job stability to reduce corruption and facilitate long-term planning within the government for the benefit of the general public.

“Allow them to complete their term or tenure. For example, the Central Bank governor has a 5-year term, but oftentimes they do not complete even two or three years in office,” recommends a respondent.

“The movement of government officials should be reduced because if it is not reduced, the rate of corruption will be high, and the facilitation of long-term plans will fail,” continued another.

“Allow senior officials to execute their mandates without interference; also, appoint based on merit and not on a corrupt basis or lobbying.”

The majority of respondents believe that appointing people on merit and permitting them to complete their full terms will promote service delivery for the common good.

Other recommendations include appointing civil servants on contract terms and paying them well to improve performance and reduce corruption.