07/15/2025
Accusations Of "Dirty Politics" Leveled Against South Sudan's Stephen Dhieu Dau
Allegations of political maneuvering, financial impropriety, and financing of rebellion have surfaced against Hon. Stephen Dhieu Dau, a prominent figure in South Sudanese politics. These accusations depict a desperate struggle to maintain political relevance through proxy.
Sources indicate that between May and November 2024, Stephen Dhieu reportedly engaged in two meetings with Gen. Pagan Amum in Nairobi. The first was a brief 30-minute encounter at Upper Hill, Raddison Blu Hotel coinciding with the nascent Tumaini Initiative. A second, more extended meeting of four hours reportedly took place at the Pan Afric Sarova Hotel. These meetings are characterized by the sources as "desperate attempts to maneuver his ailing political space in Kiir’s government," suggesting a strategic effort to leverage the Tumaini Initiative for his benefit by using Gen. Pagan Amum as his ladder to climb up as his previous political survival in the government where initiated by Pagan when he was the Secretary General of the SPLM party.
Unaccounted Funds and Presidential Accusations
A significant point of contention revolves around the 3% oil revenue allocation designated for the people of Melut county, a fund Stephen Dhieu was reportedly responsible for as the former Minister of Petroleum. It's alleged that no funds were released, with Dhieu consistently deflecting inquiries by stating, "The government took the money."
This claim was publicly contradicted in 2020 during the South Sudan Traditional Authorities Conference in Juba. During the event, attended by President Salva Kiir, the then-paramount chief of Melut county, Philip Rawan Chol, directly questioned the whereabouts of the community's 3% share. President Kiir's confidently replied, according to the sources, that "your money is with your son ( Stephen Dhieu ) and Gen. Akol Koor."
Further compounding the issue, Hon. Stephen Dhieu reportedly confessed to an unnamed associate that he provided some money to Gen. Akol Koor, though the exact amount remains undisclosed. This alleged admission, coupled with the pressure from the Melut county community to account for the funds, has reportedly led Dhieu to involve community leadership in what sources describe as an attempt to "cover up and protect himself."
Controlling Measures And Psychological Warfare
In what appears to be a broader strategy to maintain influence over the people of Melut county, Stephen Dhieu is accused of directly intervening in the flow of humanitarian aid. He allegedly wrote to the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Petroleum, requesting that any medical assistance intended for individuals from Melut county be redirected to him for approval before reaching the ministry. This action is seen as an attempt to assert his continued control and demand deference from the community.
The New Funding Model For Rebels Especially The United People Alliance- UPA
The incumbent chairperson for the Board of Directors of the National Revenue Authority is currently funding the UPA, a rebel outfit curved out from the SSOMA Alliance that is led by Gen. Pagan Amum. For the last one and half year, Stephen Dhieu sold all the properties that belong to Pagan Amum and sent him the money through an account created under the name John Wekesa at Ecobank limited in Nairobi, Kenya. The financial flow towards the UPA boss ( Pagan Amum ) are too opens and clear onset. Stephen's agreement with Pagan Amum is that he wants to return to top position in the government in case the UPA gets a vice president slot as per the proposal in the Tumaini Initiative roundtable. The same Stephen Dhieu is the one settling Pagan Amum activities in Hoima City in Uganda as well as the SPLM-IO Deputy Nathaniel Oyet in Uganda.
