The South Sudanese government has not responded to a series of reports published since nearly three weeks ago on irregularities in the public infrastructure sector including reports of conflict of interest, non-competitive contract awards and non-performance on public sector contracts.

Radio Tamazuj published the reports since 16 June following an investigation lasting about two months.

The investigation linked President Salva Kiir to ABMC Thai South Sudan Construction, revealed that the government awarded roads-building contracts to the same company without open bidding, and detailed massive extra-budgetary spending by the Ministry of Roads in the years before the current civil war.

The reports also stated that Kiir failed to declare his assets and income to the Anti-Corruption Commission in the last three years as required by law and that he arranged for another roads construction company to build an oil refinery in his hometown in Warrap State, in spite of earlier anti-corruption reports linking the company to massive irregularities in public roads contracts.

Separately, Radio Tamazuj also reported that Kiir's wife did business with one of South Sudan's wealthiest businessman, a former governor belonging to the National Congress Party led by Sudan's President Omar al Bashir.

The president's press secretary, Ateny Wek Ateny, denied links between Kiir and ABMC in an interview with Radio Tamazuj prior to publication of the reports on 16 June, but since that date the government has not issued any further denials.

Broadcasters and publishers in Juba have equally been silent on the issue. A number of South Sudanese journalists who preferred not to be named told Radio Tamazuj that media owners and journalists feared to republish the reports or follow up on them because of the possibility of persecution by the National Security Service or confiscation of their newspapers.

One observer said that the government preferred not to respond so as not to add more fuel to the fire, suggesting that it would be better to let the matter burn itself out.

Sources also told Radio Tamazuj that the management of ABMC Construction ordered employees not to talk to the media.

In the meantime, many South Sudanese readers who accessed the reports via mobile phones or the Internet reacted angrily in social media forums, accusing the government of corruption and demanding further investigations.