South sudan's Steven Wondu - A rare voice of restraint in newest nation - The Africa Report

As the world's newest nation, stripped bare of administrative talent by civil war and with large reserves of oil, a commodity known to weaken transparency, it was always going to be a challenge to hold the government to account.

At least one man is trying.

In July 2012, South Sudan's auditor general, Steven Wondu, released a damning report into state corruption unveiling gross mismanagement by the finance ministry.

"While some institutions were cash starved, others received, at the discretion of the ministry, more funds than were legally authorised," said the report.

More than $1bn in oil revenue vanished in 2005-2006, according to Wondu's previous report.

A former ambassador to Japan and author of a book on the liberation struggle, From Bush to Bush, Wondu is a rare bird in a government packed with freedom fighters who have little time for good governance.