JUBA – The Vice President and Chair of the Economic Cluster, Benjamin Bol Mel, has expressed delight following the swearing-in of his wife, Sarah Peter Nyot Kok, who formally assumed office as Counsel General in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
During the ceremony, Sarah, a lawyer by profession, pledged to serve “with diligence and integrity,” vowing to strengthen the rule of law, uphold constitutional order, and expand access to justice for all South Sudanese.
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Dr. Joseph Geng Aketch, welcomed her to the ministry, noting that her expertise would be vital to advancing the institution’s mandate of promoting accountability, justice, reconciliation, and national unity.
In his remarks, Bol Mel, who presided over the swearing-in ceremony, urged the ministry to ensure strict compliance with legal frameworks in government financial dealings to safeguard public resources.
“The law must remain a shield of fairness, a guide for governance, and a foundation for national prosperity,” he wrote on X.
Sarah’s appointment, made by President Salva Kiir, adds to a growing list of senior government positions recently filled by relatives of South Sudan’s top political leaders, stirring renewed debate over nepotism in public office.
Her appointment comes shortly after President Kiir appointed his daughter, Adut Salva Kiir, as the Presidential Envoy on Special Programs.
Similarly, veteran politician Kuol Manyang Juuk’s daughter, Atong Kuol Manyang, currently serves as the Minister of Trade and Industry, while former Vice President James Wani Igga’s son, Kose James Wani Igga, was recently named executive director of the South Sudan Roads Authority.
The pattern of high-level family appointments has fueled public unease at a time when South Sudan is grappling with calls for reforms and stronger institutions. Critics argue that such trends risk weakening trust in governance, while supporters maintain that qualifications, not family ties, should be the ultimate measure of service.
