Puok Both Baluang acting on behalf of James Gatdet Dak as press secretary for Machar

JUBA – SPLM-IO director of information and public relations Puok Both Baluang is the acting press secretary for South Sudan’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, according to Machar’s media aide James Gatdet Dak who is outside the country.

For the last few months and week, James Gatdet has been outside the country sometimes participating on behalf of the main armed opposition group SPLM-IO, in the talks between government rebel group in Rome.

He also visited his family in Sweden following last round of talks in Italy. He has since been in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

In a brief social media statement on Sunday morning, James Gatdet said media houses should contact Baluang, who is now the acting media aide for the first vice president, for media-related inquiries.

“As I am on a temporary leave from my office as the Press Secretary in the Office of the First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan, H. E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, my colleague, Cde Puok Both Baluang, shall continue to act on my behalf,” he wrote on Sunday morning.

“Media outlets should be directing any inquiries to him,” he added.