Machar ally criticizes media ban on presidential decree

JUBA — A senior member of the main opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Riek Machar said on Friday the ban on media announcements of presidential decrees plunged into uncertainty, raising concerns over transparency and access to official information.

The Office of the President issued directives on Thursday prohibiting the announcement of appointments and dismissals of government officials through state media, with the exception of national ministers and state governors.

According to the circular, public officials, including undersecretaries, senior civil servants, ambassadors, and state-level officials such as advisors, ministers, assembly members, and county commissioners, will now receive written notifications regarding their dismissal or appointment.

Dut Majokdit, a member of the SPLM-IO National Liberation Council and a close ally of First Vice President Machar, warns that the ban undermines the public’s right to information and weakens accountability, urging authorities to reconsider the restriction.

“These directives issued by the Minister of Presidential Affairs will effectively render the state to operate in the dark. The president cannot relieve or revoke an MP that was appointed publicly in the dark,” Majokdit said in a statement seen by Sudans Post on Friday.

Majokdit stated that the practice of announcing the names of officials appointed or relieved on state-owned radio, SSBC, enables citizens to be informed.

“Without presidential decrees, SSBC will lose one of the most watched and anticipated programs, as no other program attracts citizens more than the evening announcements of presidential decrees issued by President Salva Kiir.”

He expressed concern that this could result in manipulation, as individuals with personal agendas may try to dismiss or relieve senior officials without the president’s knowledge.

“There is no country in the region where senior government officials’ appointments are made in the dark. Kenya, for example, provides a clear contrast; President William Ruto personally announces appointments in the state house in Nairobi in the presence of the media house, and names are published on the official presidential platform for public knowledge.”

Majokdit, the former chairperson of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in Northern Bahr el Ghazel state, stated that the ban could lead to shock, high blood pressure, or complications related to diabetes if individuals are unexpectedly presented with a private revocation letter.

“Without public announcement, citizens will not know who is still active in the Parliament or holding public office for that matter if the revocation is in secrecy. This lack of transparency will bring confusion to our people.”

He called on the presidency to rethink the ban, stating that government officials should not be appointed or removed in secrecy without a public announcement on SSBC television.

“This lack of transparency will bring confusion to our people. (R-ARCSS) stipulates clearly that state governors do not have authority to appoint or relieve officials independently unless the agreement that legitimized the R-TGONU has collapsed.”