FACT-CHECK | Lobong’s claim that citizens make politicians corrupt is unverified
On 31st January 2022, the Governor of Eastern Equatoria State, Louis Lobong, unequivocally and boldly said South Sudanese citizens are the ones to blame for the high level of corruption in the country.
Mr Lobong aired the remark in Arabic while addressing a group of congregants at St. Mary Cathedral in Western Bhar-el-Ghazal State capital Wau.
By “citizens”, Lobong meant South Sudanese nationals not holding public offices.
The claim
In a video clip obtained by The City Review, the Governor said: “You are the ones who leave politicians to be corrupt. You are the ones who destroyed the country. It has been said that the government and its people are hungry, poor, and corrupt and that the government is not good.’’
Lobong added that: ‘‘The government will be good when you are strong, satisfied, and have money. The church will also be strong when you are satisfied and have money to support the church in order for it to carry out development.”
The statements came only a few weeks after Transparency International ranked South Sudan as the most corrupt country in the world ahead of Syria and Somalia. According to Mr Lobong, politicians cannot be corrupt when citizens are hardworking.
The Corruption Perception Index (CPI), measures how corrupt each country’s public sector is perceived. It sources the data from reputable organisations with no socio-political inclinations, such as the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.
According to Macrotrends, the unemployment rate in South Sudan and particularly in the public sector has soared since 2020. Among the youth that accounts for 72% of the population, unemployment stands at 12 per cent.
In Eastern Equatoria State, Lobong’s region, the youth have repeatedly embarked on strike calling on the government and NGOs to ensure fair recruitment policies that empower the youth and members of the local community. In 2021, the advocacy turned violent, forcing some NGOs to close, including the Red Cross Society.
Corruption reports
There have several reports published on corruption in South Sudan. Most of these reports implicated senior government officials.
Before Lobong was reappointed as the Governor of Eastern Equatoria State, one particular report published by The Sentry titled: Untapped and Unprepared: Dirty Deals Threaten South Sudan’s Mining Sector implicated him.
In October 2020, Lobong rubbished the report and threatened legal measures against The Sentry.
“We would like to state to the world, the people of South Sudan and Eastern Equatorians that the Lojore family have never committed any wrongdoing. As such, we are ready to pursue this case against The Sentry before the court of public opinion and the court of justice to clear our family name,” he said at the time.
Conclusion
Multiple reports on corruption in South Sudan have implicated senior politicians and people who are directly or indirectly related to them. There is no documented evidence that ordinary citizens make politicians be corrupt. Lobong’s claim is unverified.
