Activist lauds Kiir for naming female spokesperson

JUBA – A prominent South Sudanese activist has lauded President Salva Kiir Mayardit for his decision to appoint a female to the position of the presidential press secretary which has been vacant since the removal of Ateny Wek Ateny nearly two months ago.

In a presidential decree read out on the state-own South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) on Friday night, Kiir named Lily Adhieu Martin, daughter of SPLA liberator and commander Martin Manyiel, as the new spokesperson for the office of the president.

In a statement following the appointment, Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) welcomed the decision of the president to name a female candidate for the press secretariat in the office of the president.

“CEPO welcomes the appointment of a female as press secretary in the office of the president. This is a remarkable because this this action by the president redress of the gender imbalance created by our society between males and females,” Yakani said.

“The appointment of female as press secretary of the president is a good indicator that we recognize the strengths of our society’s female members in all sectors of employment and services,” the outspoken activist further said.

ADHIEU TOLD TO WORK PROFESSIONALLY

Yakani went on to call on the newly-appointed press secretary to act in a professional way not to led woman down and to also improve relations between the media and the office of the president.

“Lily Adhieu Martin Manyiel Ayuel should conduct her work professionally and demonstrate to the society that she as a woman is capable in her work in the office of the president,” Yakani said.

“It is important that she improve the media relation with the price of the president especially in this period where the country will be undergoing political transitional process,” Yakani stressed.

He further called on Adhieu to “to stand firm in ensuring that incidences against media and journalists during the events where the president is guest of honor/speaker are stopped. In the past there was increase of incidence of harassment and intimidation of media and journalists.”

FEMALE SPOKESPERSON FOR UNIFIED ARMY

Yakani who has previously called for appointment of a female spokesperson for army further reiterated his call.

“CEPO repeats the call for appointment of female speaker for the unified forces,” he said.