13/10/2024
South Sudan 79, must stop speculating and rumormongering: Gen. Akol Koor Kuc and Gen. Akec Tong Aleu are brothers, and their political father is Salva Kiir Mayardit.
By: Ateny Wek Ateny
I am getting tired from those who sent me a lot of messages on my inbox, urging me to comment in regard to the recent changes in the National Security, and in Warap State Gubernatorialโs position. Some are doing this as a mockery, some did it to shed crocodileโs tears, and few are interested in my humble opinion. I ignored all the urges to write. So, the hired page, the so called South Sudan 79, runs their fake news entitled โthe former Press Secretary to the President Mr. Ateny Wek Ateny is rumored to have been taken to Blue Houseโ. I have been receiving calls from my family, in-laws, friends and from some of my readership confirming the news. I told them, I wasnโt arrested even even heard any plan by anyone to arrest me.
Who rumored my arrest apart from the so called South Sudan 79? Why would anyone sought to arrest me, and on what grounds? Banking on the confusion and ignorance of the majority of our people on how government works, South Sudan 79, has been selling political-propaganda-prostitution. Little do they know they are pushing the country to abyss.
This type of propaganda must stop. If, this fake page want me arrested, then it must wait for Kiirโs Administration to cede power first. I said it last time, that under Kiirโs administration, nobody should dare bullying me. Even, when I have no job, it doesnโt mean I can be bullied, unless I clearly commit an arrestable offense โ to which no one is immune of. The rebels are the one enjoying such news, but let them first come to take over and run the country the way they want. Now, Kiir is still the President.
Like any changes before, the recent changes of guards in the Internal Security Bureau (ISB) and in Warrap state are normal changes and routine in the reasonable manโs perspective. So, please allow Gen. Akec Tong Aleu to do his work and also stop bullying Gen. Akol Koor Kuc โ since he has done is work for the nation in the last 13 years. There is nothing the fake media could add or subtract other than bewilderment.
Both men; the immediate former DG of ISB Gen. Akol Koor Kuc and the newly appointed DG of ISB, Gen. Akec Tong Aleu are brothers and no much business for anyone to want to dig deep into this. They both comes from the same Greater Tonjdit Community; they also belong to the same school of thought โ- the liberation struggles albeit of their past differences in ranks and positions. They were also trained under Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit. So, to relieve Gen. Akol Koor Kuc and appointing/ promoting Gen. Akec Tong Aleu as the DG for ISB, the President was exactly exercising his prerogative. It should not be claimed by anyone, however his/her relation with the President.
So the change was normal and exceedingly routine. Tonjdit is lucky and the people of Tonj must celebrate this genuinely. It is rare, the successive Spy-Chiefs to have come from just one community. I feel pity for those who celebrate the removal of Gen. Akol Koor Kuc and those who think they brought Gen. Akec Tong. Who told these people that the Spy-Chief is recommended to the President by anyone? This was done by the President and the affected as well as the beneficiaries should just mourn/ celebrate the happening in silence.
That said, President Kiir was just choosing who should fill the position amongst his own cadres. It shouldnโt be taken for granted. Imagine, Gen. Akol has been Spy Chief for 13 years, the President has been President for 13 years since independence, and the country is 13 years old too. See the matching. Who is willing to undo whose legacy here? So, nobody is throwing or being thrown away. It is a matter of time before President Kiir assign Gen. Akol Koor again in another position. The enemies of the President and that of Gen. Akol Koor should not start to celebrate. There is no total fallout at all. I know, the detractors and those who want the President to demolish what he has built are waiting for more destruction, but they will wait for long.
Finally, while Gen. Akec Tong is now doing his job diligently, the nature of the job of the intelligence did not change with the removal of Gen. Akol Koor Kuc. The guard was changed, but the nature and the consequence of the spy job remains the same. Though our country intelligence is seemingly out- gossiped by licensed gossipers, and rumormongers, I have faith in President Kiirโs ability to distinguish between what is true and what is fault.
The pit created by rumormongering, is still wide opened, and so it is incumbent upon Gen. Akec Tong Aleu to close the pit, if he must have peace of mind. The intelligent is the most sophisticated institution, and has what it takes to verify all the information accurately. There should be no need for a group or individuals to masquerade as more intelligent than the intelligence itself. The intelligence institutions must work restore its robbed reputation to make rumormongers to shy than the intelligence being forced to defend itself.
In conclusion, I am not arrested as rumored, nor there is any reason to be arrested. The fake news are meant for creating wider confusion. Shame to the devils and propaganda- prostitutes.
The writer is the former Press Secretary in the Office of the President, and the views expressed here are his own devoid of any ulterior motives. He could be reached by email: [email protected]
