Government officials face new rules to see president

JUBA – South Sudan’s cabinet has approved stricter procedures for government officials seeking meetings with President Salva Kiir Mayardit, the deputy information minister said on Friday.

The new measures, introduced by minister of presidential affairs, Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro, aim to improve health and safety protocols in the president’s office while streamlining the scheduling of visitors.

Deputy Information Minister Jacob Mijok Korok explained that ministers must now submit a formal request to the Cabinet Affairs office, which will then forward it to the ministry of presidential affairs.

The ministry will then schedule a meeting with the president.

“So, the ministers have to fill and submit a forms to the office of the minister of cabinet affairs before rushing to the office of the president,” Korok said in a press briefing.

“You have to fill the forms and this form will be taken to the office of the minister of presidential affairs. And then you will be actually informed that your time actually has come,” he added.

The new procedures are designed to reduce congestion in the president’s office.

Exceptions are made for vice presidents and advisors who are still permitted to request direct meetings with the president.

“From the advisors and vice presidents; they have the categories that they can actually go direct,” Korok said.

“But the rest of the teams, they have the specific areas that they can actually submit their applications to avoid a lot of congestions,” he concluded.