April 4, 2020 (Nyamilepedia) — The deputy spokesman of South Sudan’s SPLA-IO, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, has been appointed by the country’s defense minister, Angelina Teny, as press secretary.
“In exercise of the powers conferred upon me under Article 114 (2) (B & C) of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011(as amended), I, Angelina Jany Teny Minister of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs, do hereby issue this Ministerial Order No. 001/2020 for appointment of Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, as Press Secretary and Media Analyst in the Office of the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs,” the ministerial order seen by Nyamilepedia partly reads.
Lam is the deputy SPLA-IO spokesman and his appointment was met with different views with those supporting and oppossing taking to the social media.
Journalist and TV presenter at South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) Garang John criticised the appointment questioning whether the defense minister was sidelining the army’s spokesman.
“Is the Minister of Defence, Hon. Angelina Teny trying to sideline SSPDF Spokesperson or what?” he asked.
For his part, Gattiek Gatkuoth, an opposition supporter congratulated Lam from Cairo saying the opposition mouthpiece deserved the position.
“Congratulations to col. Lam Paul Gabriel for being appointed as press secretary and media analyst in the office of defense minister Hon. Angelina Teny,” Gatkuoth said.
“Col. Lam Paul is [a] very competent and great cadre of all times. We’re confident that he will try his best to ensure that everything is done perfectly in his assignment,” he added.
