Juba, South Sudan
August 8, 2022 — South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday evening relieved his old-serving press secretary Ateny Wek Ateny.
In a statement read out on the state-ran South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), President Kiir issued a decree sacking his Press Secretary without stating the reason.
Ateny was a political commentator and columnist at Citizen newspaper before he was appointed by Kiir on 27 November 2013 and has held the position since then.
Ateny has been both controversial and vocal, commenting on number of political issues in the country and at a time a staunch critic of the country’s political leaders jeopardizing his responsibilities as the Press Secretary of the Presidency.
Over the last three years Ateny has been accused of sexual harassment and exploitation of women, who wanted access to J1; however, he has stood his ground both on and off the court.
His relief comes a day after the sacking of the country’s Minister of Finance Agak Achuil Lual and Governor of the Central Bank Moses Makur as well.
But President Salva Kiir Mayardiit did not immediately announce his replacement.
