Benjamin Bol Mel rules out using ‘shortcuts’ to succeed Kiir

JUBA – South Sudan presidential advisor and envoy on special programs Benjamin Bol Mel has dismissed rumors suggesting that President Salva Kiir plans to hand over power to him as Kiir prepares to travel abroad for medical treatment.

The speculation surfaced on social media over the weekend, alleging that Bol Mel had been sworn in as acting president. Addressing the claims during a press conference in Juba on Monday, Bol reaffirmed his commitment to the country’s leadership and dismissed any notions of undermining the system.

“I respect my superiors; I do respect my country, the system, the leadership, and I’m intact. I don’t go around people. So, if you don’t know me, you just have to know me today. I do respect my superior system and I’m not jumping,” he said.

Bol, who also serves as the First Deputy Secretary-General of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) for Political Affairs, Organization, and Mobilization, criticized the role of social media in spreading baseless allegations.

“This is a total destruction when you use such media to distract the nation, set up confusion,” he stated.

“That’s very negative. You need to be very careful about what we say in the media. Therefore, the country cannot be built by those people whose work is just revolving about negative media propaganda,” he continued.

SPLM Secretary-General Peter Lam Both joined Bol in addressing the issue, highlighting what it described as increase in social media propaganda targeting the government.

“These campaigns are largely sponsored by disgruntled South Sudanese anti-peace elements and foreign agents, and these people are being identified by their computer IP locations,” Lam said.

“Some are based in South Sudan, and others in foreign countries. Their main aims are to discredit the government, create disunity within the SPLM, defame the leaders of our country, and develop rifts and mistrust among leaders of the same government and the same party,” he stressed.

Lam also refuted rumors that a secret SPLM meeting was scheduled in Rumbek, Lakes State, to transfer leadership of the party to Bol Mel.

“Another rumor came up about the arrest and detention of a senior general in SSPDF, and this scared our people. SSPDF spokesperson, the Press Secretary in the Office of the President, and the President himself had to address this to calm down our people,” Lam explained.

“Another dangerous rumor has again surfaced that Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel is now the acting president of the Republic of South Sudan. They brought a picture that was used when Dr. Mel took the oath of office as Special Envoy of the President and used it to execute their designs,” he added.

Lam underscored that the authors of these rumors aimed to create division within the SPLM and sow discord among South Sudanese leaders, cautioning against the dangers of misinformation.