South Sudan President Appoints Dead Man To Elections Panel, Later Fires Senior Aides
South Sudan President Salva Kiir found himself at the centre of an extraordinary political embarrassment after a presidential order appointed a man who died five years ago to a key elections panel, a move that later led to the dismissal of two senior aides. The appointment, meant to help guide discussions ahead of elections scheduled for December, triggered public ridicule and raised fresh questions about governance inside Africa’s youngest nation.
The controversy erupted after a presidential decree dated 30 January listed Steward Soroba Budia as a member of a multi-party panel tasked with paving the way for the long-delayed polls. Local media quickly pointed out that Budia, an opposition figure, had passed away in 2020, prompting widespread mockery on social media and intense scrutiny of the president’s office.
Dead Man Named In Official Order
Budia had been a member of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) and was a signatory to the 2018 peace agreement that sought to end years of conflict following South Sudan’s independence in 2011. His name appearing on an official government list stunned observers.
The story was first reported by the BBC, which said the appointment sparked disbelief across the country.
In a statement issued after the backlash, the president’s office acknowledged the error but stopped short of naming who was responsible.
“It is now evident that a thorough verification was not done by one of the stakeholders which resulted in this unfortunate administrative oversight,”
David Amour Major said in a press release on Monday, quoted by the BBC.
Amour insisted that the presidency had relied on submissions provided by external parties.
“The president’s office relied entirely on the accuracy and currency of the names submitted by stakeholders,”
he said.
Senior Aides Shown The Door
Hours later, President Kiir moved swiftly. An official statement posted on his verified Facebook page announced that press secretary David Amour Major and Valentino Dhel Maluet, the chief administrator in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, had been relieved of their duties.
The statement, signed by Minister of Presidential Affairs Africano Mande Gedima, offered no explanation.
“His Excellency the President is pleased to announce that the two officials have been relieved of their duties,”
the statement read.
“He expresses his profound gratitude for their service.”
It remains unclear whether Amour’s earlier statement directly led to his dismissal. The BBC reports that speculation about his sacking had already been circulating before the announcement.
Elections Clouded By Conflict
President Kiir has led South Sudan since independence and has repeatedly postponed elections. The latest polls are scheduled for December, but doubts persist over whether they will go ahead.
The United Nations says more than 180,000 people have recently been forced from their homes due to renewed fighting, particularly in Jonglei state.
Government forces are battling groups linked to Riek Machar, the suspended vice-president. Machar is currently under house arrest and on trial for murder, treason and crimes against humanity, charges he denies.
Kiir and Machar were meant to govern together under a unity deal agreed in 2018, following a five-year civil war sparked by a power struggle between the two men.
For now, the bizarre appointment of a deceased politician has become a symbol of the deeper political dysfunction facing South Sudan as it inches towards yet another uncertain election season.
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