South Sudan's Anti-Corruption Commission: Eight Years After the Peace Agreement, Where is

The South Sudanese government has failed to fully reconstitute and adequately resource the Anti-Corruption Commission nearly eight years after signing the Revitalized Peace Agreement in 2018.

This development raises serious questions about South Sudan's commitment to combating corruption, strengthening the rule of law, and promoting accountable governance. Corruption remains one of the greatest obstacles to peacebuilding, economic development, and democratic governance in South Sudan, diverting scarce public resources from essential services, weakening state institutions, eroding public confidence, discouraging domestic and foreign investment, and undermining the rule of law. The Anti-Corruption Commission was established as an independent institution mandated to prevent, investigate, and combat corruption, with a vision to safeguard public resources and promote transparency and integrity in public administration.

The Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) signed in Addis Ababa on September 12, 2018, recognized that sustainable peace requires accountable institutions. Article 4.4.1.7 of the agreement specifically requires that within two months of the commencement of the Transitional Period, the president, in consultation and agreement with the first vice president and council of ministers, shall reconstitute the Anti-Corruption Commission.

The key parties involved are the South Sudanese government, which has failed to meet its obligations under the peace agreement, and the Anti-Corruption Commission, which remains understaffed and underfunded. Practitioners should monitor this development closely as it may have implications for future peace negotiations and the country's ability to achieve sustainable development.