By Insider
In a troubling revelation that has sent shockwaves through South Sudan, the prominent businessman and influential figure, Benjamin Bol Mel, has been implicated in a massive scandal involving the looting of over $1.5 billion worth of crude oil. The crude oil, amounting to 21,780,134 barrels, was ostensibly allocated for the construction of the Bhar El Ghazal Road, a critical infrastructure project that has now become synonymous with corruption and mismanagement.
The Road That Never Was
The Bhar El Ghazal Road, a project intended to be a lifeline connecting key regions in South Sudan, was contracted to Shandon Hi-Speed Nile Investment and Development Co. Ltd. The initial contract was valued at $711,125,700, later inflated to $736,533,725 through an addendum. The project was supposed to be completed within 44 months. However, despite the passage of years and the allocation of vast resources, the road remains largely unbuilt, with only 63 kilometers out of the planned 333 kilometers completed—an abysmal 16% of the work done in 36 months.
This failure has not only crippled the nation’s infrastructure ambitions but has also spotlighted the deep-rooted corruption that plagues South Sudan.
The Audit Findings: A Catalogue of Corruption
Last year, the Ministry of Roads and Bridges conducted an audit to examine the implementation of the Bhar El Ghazal Road project. The audit was a scathing indictment of the processes, revealing numerous irregularities and outright violations of public procurement procedures.
Circumvention of Public Procurement Laws: The audit revealed that the contractor, ARC of Bol Mel, was not selected through an open competitive tendering process but was single-sourced. This blatant disregard for the Public Procurement Act raises serious questions about the integrity of the entire project. The lack of competition made it impossible to determine if the contract was awarded to the most competent contractor at a reasonable price.
Exclusion of the Roads Authority: According to the South Sudan Roads Authority Act of 2011, the Roads Authority is mandated to manage all trunk road projects in the country. However, the audit revealed that the Authority was completely sidelined in the Bhar El Ghazal Road project. The reasons for this exclusion remain unclear, but it indicates a deliberate attempt to bypass established regulatory frameworks, likely to enable corruption.
Inadequate Progress and Delays: The audit found significant delays in the construction process. Despite work commencing earlier, only 16% of the project had been completed. This delay is not just a technical failure but a severe breach of trust, with public funds and resources being squandered with little to show in return.
Lack of Supervision: The audit also highlighted inadequate supervision of the construction. The appointed consultant, who was responsible for overseeing the project’s quality, only worked for one year before their contract was not renewed due to lack of funds. This lack of oversight increases the risk that the road construction was substandard, compromising the safety and durability of any work completed.
Environmental Neglect: The Ministry of Environment and Forestry was not involved in the initial feasibility study for the road’s construction. This oversight led to an inadequate design, with crucial hydrological data missing from the feasibility study. The environmental implications of such neglect could be disastrous, particularly in a region prone to flooding and other environmental challenges.
Unclear Financing Agreements: The financing of the road construction was shrouded in mystery. Originally, the project was to be funded through the sale of crude oil in a bilateral agreement between South Sudan and China. However, when ARC of Bol Mel took over, the financing structure became opaque. The audit revealed that 21,780,134 barrels of crude oil worth $1,558,763,802 had been shipped, but there was no clarity on how much of that oil revenue was actually used for the road’s construction.
The Larger Implications
The exposure of Benjamin Bol Mel’s involvement in this scandal is not just about a single road project. It reveals the deep-seated corruption that is robbing South Sudan of its resources and future. The looting of over $1.5 billion worth of crude oil is not just an economic crime; it is a betrayal of the nation’s hopes for development and stability.
This scandal also raises critical questions about the role of other key players in the government and private sector. How many more projects have been similarly compromised? How much more of South Sudan’s wealth has been siphoned off by those in positions of power?
What’s Next?
This is just the beginning of a series of articles that will delve deeper into this scandal. Future articles will explore the roles of the Ministry of Petroleum, the most expensive crude oil exporting company, and the reasons why every Minister of Finance and Planning who attempts to rectify these corrupt practices is swiftly relieved of their duties.
The nation deserves answers, and those responsible for this grand theft must be held accountable. Stay tuned as we continue to uncover the truth behind one of the largest corruption scandals in South Sudan’s history.
Call to Action
The exposure of this scandal is a call to action for all South Sudanese. It is time to demand transparency, accountability, and justice. The future of the nation depends on the ability of its people to hold their leaders accountable and to ensure that public resources are used for the common good, not personal enrichment.
Stay informed, stay engaged, and together, we can build a better South Sudan.
