Top South Sudan TV official defects to rebels
January 24, 2015 (NAIROBI) – A senior official in the ministry of information has switched side from president Salva Kiir’s government and joined the rebel faction led by former vice president, Riek Machar.
He made the announcement in front of thousands of supporters of the rebel movement who attended a briefing in Nairobi by the opposition leader, Riek Machar, on the recent Arusha agreement on reunification of factions of the ruling party, the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM).
A Major General in police, Abdel-Latif denounced president Kiir, calling for his removal from power.
“I want to announce to you today that I have joined the SPLM/SPLA under the leadership of Dr. Riek Machar,” he declared.
“Salva Kiir is a dictator who should be removed from power by all means available,” he told the audience.
Abdel-Latif hails from the Dinka ethnic group in Lakes state of the Greater Bahr el Ghazal region as president Kiir.
Before being appointed by a presidential decree as director-general in charge of the South Sudan TV, he previously served as security advisor for the interior ministry headed by Aleu Ayieny Aleu, the minister.
The official however fell out with his new boss, Michael Makuei Lueth, the minister of information and official spokesman of the government, barely one month after his appointment.
The two officials exchanged accusations and counter-accusations in which the minister issued an order in November 2014 transferring Abdel-Latif from the TV to the headquarters of the ministry, a move the TV official refused.
He accused the minister of a politically motivated act, saying the constitutional post holder didn’t want programmes showing members of the Nuer ethnic group on the TV.
He further accused Lueth who is a member of the government negotiating team of corruption, alleging that he involved in financial malpractices for his personal gains.
The media official reportedly appealed to president Kiir to intervene and reverse the minister’s order, arguing that his transfer would only be done by the same authority that appointed him to the TV directorate.
He counter-acted by ordering the TV staff not to broadcast the minister’s order about his transfer.
This prompted minister Lueth to order closure of Abdel-Latif’s office at the TV station and dispatched national security personnel to the reception gate to prevent him from entering the premises.
The official’s defection was graced by the armed opposition leader, Machar, who hailed the decision.
In a long letter explaining his decision, Abdel-Latif accused president Kiir of having surrounded himself with people who are corrupted and appointed many from his home state of Warrap into key positions in government.
He enumerated many of the names of kinsmen Kiir appointed in trying to make the point about his accusations directed to the president.
(ST)
