Allegations of rampant malpractices inside South Sudan's telecom network companies have prompted the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) to launch a formal investigation.
Concerns about corruption and unethical behavior by significant telecom providers in the nation, such as MTN South Sudan and ZTE Corporation, have grown, prompting the inquiry.
A nine-person ad hoc inquiry committee was established on Tuesday by the TNLA Speaker, Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba.
The committee has been entrusted with looking into these claims. It is believed that the committee, chaired by Hon. Mary Nyaulang Reth from SPLM and deputized by Hon. Paul Baba Ezbon from SPLM-IO, would submit its findings in two weeks.
“I, Rt. Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, the Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), do hereby constitute and form the following ad hoc committee to investigate malpractices within the telecommunication companies within the Republic of South Sudan,” the order stated.
Hon. Juol Nhomngek, who represents Lakes State in the TNLA, presented a motion that sparked the investigation.
He detailed serious accusations against individuals within MTN South Sudan and ZTE Corporation, accusing them of demanding illegal kickbacks from subcontractors.
According to Hon. Juol, these practices have significantly inflated the cost of communication services in the country, impacting the general public.
Hon. Juol stated, "Subcontractors who are overcharged due to alleged acts of brazen malpractices are forced to increase their service charges, which the public must pay for them to cover the extra money paid as a result of the malpractices."
The TNLA’s decision to launch this investigation follows a report by Radio Tamazuj, which uncovered how senior employees at MTN and ZTE Corporation South Sudan were allegedly extorting subcontractors.
The report, published on July 23, 2024, detailed how these employees demanded $50,000 and 10 percent of every purchase order from subcontractors as conditions for awarding contracts.
The TNLA has decided to hold the telecom firms responsible in light of these disclosures, and the committee has been given the task of gathering evidence from all of the nation's telecom providers, including MTN, Zain South Sudan, and Digital Telecom.
It is anticipated that the investigation's conclusions would impact upcoming regulatory measures and provide much-needed openness to South Sudan's telecommunications industry.
