S. Sudan’s ambassador to Uganda dispels threat rumours
October 30, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s ambassador to Uganda, Samuel Luate has dismissed reports alleging he quit his position and sought political asylum in Kampala.
A diplomat at the ministry of foreign affairs and a personal friend to Luate told Sudan Tribune on Thursday that he had received a call from the ambassador last week, asking him whether he knew of any plans to remove him from Uganda and how his performance as an ambassador was perceived.
According to the diplomat, the ambassador, also inquired whether he was associated with former political detainees or the country’s rebel faction.
He was reportedly concerned that some people in the ministry were talking ill of him, particularly in regards to his previous connections to officials, who had now either joined the opposition movement or the bloc of former detainees.
“I told him I have never witnessed people talking against him myself at the ministry and I told him not to worry at all, but rather focus on his job,” he said.
The diplomat said he had been caught by surprise when he learnt of Luate’s resignation through the media, but said he would wait for official confirmation.
“This was between me and him because we have been friends for quite some time, but I was I surprised to read in the media that he has resigned and I can no longer reach him on the mobile number I have,” he said.
“This does not also mean to me that he has resigned until he comes out himself and announces [it] like Francis George Nazario did,” he added, referring to the former top South Sudanese diplomat who quit in June.
The diplomat, who is a close aide to the minister of foreign affairs, said he had also received reports claiming Luate was involved in a heated discussion with junior staff members over administrative issues relating to time management at the embassy and commitment to working hours.
“You know there are people in our society who misinterpret administrative discussions and political and parental relations. There are people who think they are in the government because their relatives are in the senior government positions and so that they are not subject to any question. They want to come to and leave the office [at] any time they want. But these are the issues which the country is facing and it will take time for our people to understand that government matters are purely institutional and should be understood in that context,” he said.
However, sources close to Luate said the ambassador had become increasingly angered by the lack of respect and civility shown by his junior staff members.
It’s claimed the ambassador was insulted by his colleagues, who also criticised his home region of Equatoria region for not making a significant enough contribution to contain the country’s latest outbreak of violence, which erupted in mid-December last year.
“I understand that he was angered by [the] lack of civility and better ideas in one of the meetings he had with his staff members,” a diplomatic source said.
“He felt [he] was being undermined and subordinated by people he expects to show him respect as the head of mission,” he added.
However, in an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune on Thursday, a foreign affairs spokesperson said that the ambassador remains in his position.
“I say that these allegations are not true. Ambassador Sam Luate has not quit. He is still the ambassador of the Republic of South Sudan to the Republic of Uganda,” Mawien Makol said.
In a separate interview, the undersecretary of the ministry of foreign affairs, Abdun Tarkoc, also said he had no knowledge of Luate’s resignation, saying the ambassador would continue to serve his country faithfully based on his commitment, competence, peacefulness, qualifications and national loyalty.
“He remains one of the few courageous and loyal ambassadors to the system. His faithfulness, loyalty and dedicated humility service to our great nascent Nation has been obvious to all,” he said.
“As for the administrative challenges, I say in any system or any organisation … even within the family, there are challenges, but there are better ways to address them. They are not addressed by running away. I am not saying he had run away. This is just an example,” he added.
Should the accusations be proven, Luate, would be the second senior diplomat from the ministry of foreign affairs to quit since the outbreak of the conflict.
Nazario, South Sudan’s former ambassador to the United Nations, was the first to quit, citing government’s failure to stem the current conflict as well as protect civilians
(ST)