South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has accused officials of stealing at least $4bn (£2.6bn) from state resources.

He has written to 75 current and former senior government employees, asking for the money be returned.
"People in South Sudan are suffering and yet some government officials simply care about themselves," President Kiir said in the letter.

The new nation is desperately in need of funds after its oil production was shut down in an argument with Sudan.

Oil accounts for 98% of revenue in South Sudan, which only seceded from Sudan to form the world's newest nation last July.

'Credibility on the line'

In a letter dated 3 May and reportedly sent sometime in the last 10 days, President Kiir wrote: "An estimated $4bn are unaccounted for or, simply put, stolen by current and former officials, as well as corrupt individuals with close ties to government officials.

"Most of these funds have been taken out of the country and deposited in foreign accounts. Some have purchased properties, often paid in cash."

South Sudan's information minister also told Reuters news agency that more than $2bn went missing in a well-publicized scandal involving the staple crop sorghum.

The country is one of Africa's least developed countries, with few paved roads and poor health and educational outcomes.

President Kiir accused South Sudan's new leaders of betraying their common vision for bettering the country.

He wrote that although many of their comrades had died in the long struggle for independence, "once we got to power we forgot what we fought for and began to enrich ourselves at the expense of our people".

The letter offered an amnesty to anyone returning money, but said "the credibility of our government is on the line".

PHOTO CAPTION

President Salva Kiir (center) has accused top South Sudanese officials of stealing $4bn.

BBC