Palace Dancers and Oil Tycoons: The Metaphor of “Ten Millionaires” Amid “Ten Million Beggars” in South Sudan
From rags to riches: the amazing transition of the South Sudanese Minister
By Emmanuel Malwal Makwach, Nairobi, Kenya
The Rise of the Elite: Palace Dancers and Oil Tycoons
Saturday, 31 May 2025 (PW) — As South Sudan’s Crown Prince prepares to succeed President Salva Kiir, it is crucial to reflect on the troubling legacy of inequality and corruption that has come to define the South Sudan’s post-independence era. The metaphor of “ten millionaires and ten million beggars” encapsulates the stark social and economic divide that widened after the outbreak of conflict in 2013. While a new elite class of tycoons and politically connected individuals flourished, the majority of South Sudanese citizens, millions displaced by war, poverty, and political exclusion, found themselves locked out of the country’s newfound wealth.
In the early years following independence in 2011, South Sudan was buoyed by optimism and high expectations. Oil revenues promised to transform the country, offering an opportunity to build a state that could finally respond to the needs of its people. However, that hope was quickly dashed. A small group of elites, including politically connected businesspeople, high-ranking officials, and their close associates, gained near-total control over government contracts, state resources, and oil revenues. This group, referred to colloquially as the “palace dancers” for their proximity to power, became the country’s first class of millionaires.
They secured lavish contracts, often without competitive bidding or proper oversight. Many of these contracts were never fulfilled, yet payments were made in full, creating a parasitic economy built on extraction rather than productivity. As these individuals amassed wealth, the general population suffered from food insecurity, lack of healthcare, poor education systems, and inadequate infrastructure.
The Crown Prince himself has not escaped controversy. He has been accused of engaging in megacorruption through his involvement in ABMC, a major road construction company. The company, which was sanctioned by the United States government, has been at the center of allegations involving misappropriated public funds and inflated contracts. Critics argue that ABMC’s operations exemplify the broader pattern of state capture and elite enrichment that has defined South Sudan’s political economy since independence.
The Dura Saga: A Defining Scandal
Perhaps no scandal better encapsulates the corruption of the early post-independence period than the 2008 “Dura Saga.” In an effort to prevent food shortages, the Government of Southern Sudan allocated nearly $3 billion in contracts to supply and store sorghum (locally known as dura). But the food never arrived. A World Bank audit found that 290 companies were paid without contracts and 151 firms were significantly overpaid.
Investigations by the Ministry of Justice and other entities confirmed that these transactions were rife with corruption, involving both government officials and private actors. The Dura Saga became a potent symbol of institutional decay and elite impunity, raising questions about the commitment of the leadership to building a functioning, accountable state.
Moreover, the oil sector, South Sudan’s economic backbone, has been marred by corruption from the start. Since independence, billions in oil revenue have been lost due to financial mismanagement, lack of transparency, and outright theft. In 2012, President Kiir admitted that $4 billion in public funds were unaccounted for, sending letters to 75 senior government officials accusing them of embezzlement. Yet these revelations did not result in prosecutions or reforms.
Instead, oil wealth continued to enrich a narrow circle of elites while public employees went unpaid, hospitals lacked basic supplies, and roads remained impassable. The misallocation of resources created a tiered society in which the elite lived in luxury while the vast majority of citizens remained mired in poverty. This inequality fueled resentment and contributed directly to the political instability that culminated in civil war.
Ethnic Patronage and the Collapse of Unity
Post-independence South Sudan quickly transformed into a patronage state dominated by ethnic favoritism. Many accused President Kiir’s administration of consolidating power within his Dinka ethnic group, marginalizing other communities, particularly the Nuer and Equatorian. The perception that oil revenues and lucrative contracts were distributed along ethnic lines eroded national cohesion and inflamed long-standing tensions.
This dynamic played a critical role in the outbreak of civil war in December 2013. Former Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, a prominent Nuer leader, broke away from the SPLM and formed the SPLM-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO). The movement, seen as a challenge to the existing regime, drew support from those excluded from the economic and political spoils of independence. The ensuing conflict devastated the country, displacing millions and causing massive humanitarian suffering.
Instead of channeling oil revenues into national development, South Sudan’s ruling elites used the windfall to purchase weapons, fund militias, and entrench their hold on power. Billions were spent on military expenditures while schools crumbled and clinics closed. The international community condemned the misuse of public funds, but diplomatic pressure yielded little change.
The result was the militarization of the state and the abandonment of the social contract. South Sudanese citizens who once dreamed of prosperity and peace found themselves victims of a kleptocratic regime that prioritized personal wealth over national wellbeing.
Conclusion: A Legacy in Question
South Sudan’s independence was supposed to mark a new beginning. Instead, it became a case study in how resource wealth can entrench inequality and fuel conflict when institutions are weak and governance is absent. The rise of “ten millionaires” amid “ten million beggars” is not merely a rhetorical device, it is the lived reality of a country betrayed by its leaders.
As the Crown Prince steps forward to inherit the presidency, the pressing question is whether this legacy of corruption and inequality will be challenged or perpetuated. Without structural reforms, genuine accountability, and a recommitment to inclusive governance, South Sudan risks remaining trapped in a cycle of elite enrichment and popular impoverishment. The future hinges not just on who leads, but on how they lead.
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