While millions of South Sudanese face food insecurity, human rights abuses, and displacement, some of South Sudan's top officials and their families are allegedly enriching themselves.
A 24 month-long investigation by the humanitarian organisation, The Sentry, claims to have uncovered evidence of the country's political elite amassing overseas fortunes, staying in 5-star hotels and driving luxury cars, despite earning modest government salaries.
Those alleged to be involved include President Salva Kiir and his deposed rival, Vice President Riek Machar,.
The Sentry's co-founder, American actor George Clooney, presented the findings at a news conference in Washington DC.
"The evidence is thorough, it is detailed and it is irrefutable. It involves arms dealers, international lawyers, international banks, international real estate."
Investigators tracked social media accounts, legal records, financial statements and shipping documents.
Researchers travelled to Adelaide and Melbourne as part of the investigation, where it is understood they interviewed a number of people.
Australia is home to one of the largest South Sudanese refugee diasporas in the world, with around 30,000 expatriates.
The investigation also found top officials in South Sudan could not continue to benefit from the civil conflict without the system of international banks, businesses, arms brokers, real estate firms, and lawyers who knowingly or unknowingly assist them.
In a bid to stop the war and atrocities, The Sentry is urging the international community to take action against banks that fail to stop dubious transactions and impose asset freezes.
Co-founder John Prendergast says South Sudan's leaders have not taken seriously United Nations threats to impose consequences for their action, and financial measures could be more productive.
"We're proposing to combine anti-money-laundering measures with targeted sanctions focused on the top leaders accompanied by robust enforcement."
South Sudan's Information Minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, has rejected the allegations, telling the BBC they are unfounded.
"These reports are not based on anything. They are actually intended to tarnish the image of the president, his family and the people of South Sudan."
The Executive Director of the United States-based World Peace Foundation, Alex de Waal, says George Clooney and John Prendergast were once close to South Sudan's leadership.
"Both for Prendergast and for Clooney it would be quite valid to criticise them for not having stood up. They were allowing the South Sudanese to get away with human rights abuses, and with corruption, and reckless political and military behaviour at a time when judicious criticism and calling them to account could have been very much more effective."
The world's newest state plunged into conflict in 2013 following a fallout between President Kiir and Mr Machar.
A peace deal reached a year ago under international pressure has been violated repeatedly by fighting.
