Insiders have come forward with damning allegations against Nile Petroleum Corporation (NILEPET) – South Sudan’s state-owned national oil and gas company, accusing the company’s leadership of gross mismanagement, widespread financial misconduct and failure to address the welfare of its employees.
The sources, who requested anonymity for their safety, claim that under the current stewardship of Eng. Ayuel Ngor Kacgor, Nilepet has descended into an alarming state of disarray, with reports indicating that staff members have not been paid for up to four months, which has worsened growing apprehensions about the company’s overall financial health and the ethical conduct of its leadership.
Eng. Ayuel Ngor, the former Vice President of Dar Petroleum Operating Company and founder of Petrotech Limited, took over the reins at NILEPET in October 2024 with the aim of improving operations but these new allegations paint a shocking picture of mismanagement.
Such delays in salary payments, which affect the livelihoods of numerous employees across the organization, have resulted in heightened frustration and deteriorating morale within the workforce.
This prolonged failure to compensate staff in a timely manner is now seen as symptomatic of a deeper, more systemic issue within NILEPET, where financial instability appears to be a prevailing trend.
The delay is also aggravated by accusations of poor management and questionable decision-making, which have further undermined the company’s operational capacity, especially given its central role in South Sudan’s oil sector, which is the country’s primary source of revenue.
In addition to the allegations of wage delays, the sources have levelled a particularly troubling accusation of money laundering against Kacgor.
According to the sources, the CEO has been using his position of authority to illicitly divert resources from the company for personal gain.
It is claimed that Kacgor recently acquired a mansion in the exclusive Karen suburb of Nairobi, which is valued at an astounding 2 million USD (Ksh 259,000,000) with the acquisition reportedly registered under the name of Kacgor’s wife, Mrs. Yar Oka.
These allegations suggest that the CEO misused his access to the state-owned corporation’s resources, potentially laundering money under the guise of legitimate transactions, all while his employees continue to suffer due to the non-payment of their salaries.
“Greetings Cyprian. Kindly do not expose my name. I am a South Sudanese and I am certainly aware of you and the tremendous activism work that you do. There is an issue I would like to bring to your attention. It involves our state-owned national oil and gas corporation, NILEPET. This company is currently headed by a man named Eng. Ayuel Ngor Ayuel Kacgor, and under his leadership, it has been brought to its knees. Staff have now gone without salaries for up to four months, while Kacgor is reportedly laundering money in Kenya. He recently bought a 2 million USD mansion in Karen, Nairobi, which is registered under the name of his wife, Mrs. Yar Oka. Please do your intelligence gathering and ensure that the Kenyan government’s Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) gets involved in investigating him. I know what you’re capable of, and I trust you will bring this to light. Our leaders are destroying our country, and Karen seems to be the first place they all run to when they take ill-gotten gains abroad. If you can nail him, it will send a strong message to our corrupt leaders that they are not untouchable.”
The seriousness of these allegations cannot be overstated, particularly in light of South Sudan’s heavy reliance on oil revenues, which are crucial to the country’s economic survival.
Given the magnitude of Nilepet’s role in managing exploration, production, and petroleum regulation, it is imperative that these claims are investigated thoroughly to ensure the continued integrity of the national oil and gas sector.
South Sudan’s leadership, including President Salva Kiir, has faced persistent allegations of corruption and mismanagement, with powerful political elites exerting undue influence over key national institutions like Nilepet and given the gravity of these allegations, the South Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission (SSACC) and the country’s Ministry of Finance and Planning should immediately launch a comprehensive investigation into the management of Nilepet’s finances.
This should include a forensic audit of the company’s financial records to assess any potential misuse of funds and the extent of financial irregularities and must assess the full extent of any potential financial mismanagement, fraud, or misuse of company resources by those in power, including the disturbing allegations surrounding Eng. Ayuel Ngor Ayuel Kacgor.
The Kenyan government, particularly the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), must investigate the reported purchase of a luxury mansion in Nairobi by Kacgor and its registration under his wife’s name.
This raises serious questions about illicit financial flows and possible money laundering.
International bodies, including the United Nations, Transparency International, and the World Bank, cannot remain silent in the face of these allegations.
South Sudan continues to receive heavy foreign assistance, and it is crucial that these organizations exert pressure on the government to ensure accountability and transparency in managing oil revenues.
The South Sudanese people deserve clarity, and the workers of Nilepet deserve justice.
The government must respond decisively to these claims, ensuring that they do not continue to suffer due to the mismanagement of those entrusted with the country’s critical resources.
