JUBA – South Sudan’s minister of youth and sports Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu has this afternoon issued a statement dismissing social media speculations that newly-appointed parliamentarian Afekuru Animu whose appointment into parliament was revoked by President Kiir yesterday over nationality concerns is working as an advisor to the minister.
This comes after social media users circulated reports in which Animu appeared in a poster that described her as a ‘Strategic Advisor’ at the ministry of youth & sports.
“It has come to the attention of the Ministry and our esteemed stakeholders that one Ms. Afekuru Animu Risasi alleges to be the employee of the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MY&S) as the Strategic Advisor,” Dr. Albino Bol said.
“This information came to the public notice through an alleged conference template by the Domestication of the African Continental free trade area (AFCFTA) on Sunday May 16, 2021,” the statement by the minister said.
The senior government official said the ministry is under reconstitution and no appointment has been made for advisors and also revealed that no position as ‘Strategic Advisor’ has been designated by the public service for the ministry.
“The Ministry is currently being reconstituted and no single advisor has been appointed. The alleged portfolio is not among the designated positions by the Public Service,” the senior government official said.
“Ms. Afekuru Animu Risasi is NOT an employee of the Ministry of Youth and Sports; therefore, the Ministry would like to caution the public that the aforementioned individual is not our employee and any person dealing with her shall do so at his/her own risk and responsibility,” he added.
“I would like to assure the people of South Sudan about the undertakings of the Ministry and the kind of stakeholders we engage with. The Ministry would also like to appreciate the efforts of the citizens who brought this to our attention,” the minister concluded.
Animu was appointed into parliament last week and her appointment sparked social media uproar over concerns on how she obtained South Sudanese nationality.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit revoked her appointment into parliament yesterday.
Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu.
Look the problem now is not about allegations that Mrs. Afrkuru Animu Risasi was working under your ministry of youths and sports, it is about National security issues and this is a generally applied to South Sudan government particularly, the President of the Republic of South Sudan. Clearly, this woman was caught up working with the vice President general Taban Deng Gai. She was fired after when the South Sudanese found she was not a citizen. Second, she went to Japanese embassy and worked with them as a citizen of South Sudan but later on, the Japanese found she was not a citizen and thirdly, she was appointed by the President Salva Kiir Mayardit without checking her county and community.
Now, the South Sudanese people are not confident on how the National security is handling properly. She could be a spy agent because why she has been sticking around while, she is not a citizen of South Sudan. If I am a leader of the country perhaps, I will never ever made appointment randomly like that without knowing exactly how that person came from which community, Boma, Payam and county. Our country is getting ashamed because there are so many things that are done incorrect and some times very unusually. Well, put her in jail and she must face a certain years at bar so that she will not repeat again.