Making Sense of South Sudan Ambassadorial Appointment.

I was shocked with the appointment of such army of ambassadors all at once at a time when our country is faced with serious economic hardship as a result of the oil shutdown (Luke Dak, USA).

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By Paanluel Wël, Washington DC, USA, Planet Earth.

In exercise of the powers conferred upon him under Article 101 (o) of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011 A.D, read together with section 25 (1) (4) of the Diplomatic and Consular Service Act 2011, General Salva Kiir Mayaardit, founding and current President of the Republic of South Sudan, issued a Presidential Decree for the appointment of grade (1), (2) and (3) Ambassadors into the Diplomatic and Consular Services in the ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sudan on March 07, 2012 A.D. The Ambassadorial list consists of 10 grade (1), 43 grade (2) and 25 grade (3), making a total of 78 Ambassadors. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Nhial Deng Nhial, was directed by the President to transfer and assign the appointed Ambassadors in accordance with the Presidential Decree.

Among those appointed to Grade One are: 1- Mr. Majok Guandon Thiep 2- Dr. Chol Deng Alak 3- Mr. Mohamed Hassan Bakeit 4- Mr. Makelele Nyajok 5- Dr. Eluzai Mogga Yokwe 6- Dr. Akec Khoc Acieu 7- Mr. Sebit Abbe Alley and 1- Mr. Paul Macuel Malok 2- Dr. Andrew Akon Akec Kuol 3- Mr. Kuol Alor Kuol.

Grade Two appointees are: 1- Mr. Anthony Louis Kon 2- Mr. Ajing Adiang Mariik 3- Mr. Alier Deng Rual 4- Mr. Akuei Bona Malwal 5- Mr. Majak Philemon Majok 6- Mr. Baak Valentino Wol 7- Mr. John Andruga Duku 8- Mr. Mariano Deng Ngor 9- Dr. Francis George Nazario 10- Mr. Joseph Moum Majak 11- Mr. Parmena Makuet Mangar 12- Mr. Philip Jada Natana 13- Mr. Arop Deng Kuol 14- Mr. Michael Majok Ayom 15- Gabriel Gai Riak 16- Mr. Bol Wek Agoth 17- Dr. John Gai Yoh 18- Dr. Daniel Peter Othol 19- Mr. Ezekiel Lol Gathouth 20- Mr. Samuel Luate Lominsuk 21- Mr. Awad El Karim Ibrahim Ali 22- Mr. Adam Saeed AbuBakr Kabawa 23- Mr. Mustafa Lowoh Walla 24- Mr. Aban Yor Yor 25- Ms. Sittona Abdalla Osman 26- Mr. Pidor Tut Pul 27- Mr. James Ernest Onge 28- Mr. Jwokthab Amum Ajak 29- Mr. Paul Malong Akaro 30- Mr. Deng Deng Nhial 31- Mr. Lazaros Akoi Arou 32- Mr. Ruben Marial Benjamin 33- Abdon Terkoc Matuet 34- Mr. James Pitia Morgan 35- Mr. Dhanojak Obongo Othow 36- Mr. Jokwen Yukwan Ayiik 37- Mr. Michael Nyang Jok 38- Mr. Michael Mayiel Chuol 39- Ms. Abuk Nikonora Manyok 40- Ms. Nyandeng Joshua Dei Wal 41- Mr. Chol Mawut Unguec Ajonga 42- Mr. Darius Garang Wol Mabior 43- Mr. Joseph Ayok Ayok.

While Grade Three included the following names: 1- Mr. Thiik Agoth Giir 2- Mr. Nickson Deng Peter 3- Mr. Morris Batali Simon 4- Ms. Mary Badoda Francis 5- Mr. Hamilton Michael Lugor 6- Mr. Akwoch Daniel Diing 7- Ms. Jago Arop Yor 8- Mr. James Kur Muorwel 9- Ms. Sarah Victor Bol 10- Mr. William Wani Ruben 11- Mr. Wol Mayar Ariec 12- Mr. David Buom Choat 13- Ms Agnes A.O Oswaha 14- Mr. Caesar Oliha Yanga 15- Mr. Garang Garang Diing 16- Mr. Kau Nak Maper 17- Mr. Ambrose Raphael Tamania 18- Mr. Kahmis Agar Wol 19- Mr. Hassan Yousif Ngor 20- Mr. John Simon Yor Kur 21- Mr. Juma Dino Amoi 22- Mr. Dominique Panthair Mading 23- Dr. Riek Pouk Riek 24- Mr. Martin Kahmis Tabia 25- Mr. Raphael Nhial Kulang

The following variables can be employed to illustrate and better appreciate and understand this Presidential Decree for the Appointment of Ambassadors into the Diplomatic and Consular Services in the ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sudan: region, state, party, gender, educational and prior experience qualifications among others.

Analysis of South Sudan Ambassadorial List

 Summary of Ambassadorial Distribution at the Greater Regional Level

 Summary of Ambassadorial Distribution at the State Level

 Summary of Ambassadorial Distribution at the Gender Level

  Summary of Ambassadorial Distribution at the Qualification Level

Further comparative comprehension of the above appointment would be aided by the following tables of the last year, first ever, cabinet of the Republic of South Sudan, apportioned according to their respective greater regions and states:

Summary of the cabinet distribution at the Greater Regional Level

Summary of the cabinet distribution at the State Level

While the above numbers speak better for themselves, it is imperative that something is mentioned about the criticisms garnered by the appointment among South Sudanese, particularly whether the new appointment reflect a lean and a broad-based government in the age of financial difficulties. One criticism is that the appointment is too bloated at a time when South Sudan, having shut down oil production, is confronting “transitional period of budgetary problems” and financial uncertainties.

Commenting on the ambassadorial appointment, Thirik Mijak, a South Sudan from the USA, believes that “such an ambassadorial appointment is contradictory to the recent austerity measures that was passed recently to avoid the problematic shortcomings of the financial constraints due to the shutdown of the oil pipelines as the main sources of public revenue” in the Republic of South Sudan.

Mijak adds: “it would be more appropriate to trim the number of these appointed ambassadors to a sizeable number that could be more affordable and significant to the number of countries with importance in terms of diplomatic ambassadorships.” Countries of diplomatic and economic importance should have been prioritized. For instance, “the great nations like USA, Canada, UK, China, Australia, Brazil, Norwegian, Germany, India plus our Eastern African nations like Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda should be given first priorities respectively.”

The second dissatisfaction with the appointment is manifested nature of underrepresentation in some states. Some South Sudanese do feel that some states have been underrepresented while others have taken more than their fairs share. For example, Unity State, which received no full ministerial position during last year cabinet formation is again shortchanged in this latest appointment—it has only about 1-2 ambassadorial positions while other states like Upper Nile, Jonglei and Warrap have taken a lion share of the ambassadorial appointees relative to their population size.

Dr. Riek Machar, the vice president of the Republic of South Sudan who hailed from Unity State has some explanations to do to the citizens of that state: what is going on in Juba in relation to Unity State, the very oil-producing state that is funding the whole of South Sudan? Why are they overwhelmingly and continually sidelined and undersold in the government?

Third disapproval is related to the pervasiveness of nepotism. There are couples of names on the ambassadorial list whose appointments may or may not have anything to do with their close relatives in the government of South Sudan. South Sudanese are wondering if the appointment of Kuol Alor Kuol (brother to Deng Alor), Deng Deng Nhial (brother to Nhial Deng), Akuei Bona Malual (son to Bona Malual), Arop Deng Kuol (brother to Pieng Deng), Aban Yor Akol (brother to Lam Akol), and Ruben Marial Benjamin (brother to Marial Benjamin), among others, have anything to do with their having close relationship to some of the ministers and Generals in Juba.

To their due credits, there is no child from the top guns in the government—President Kiir, VP Dr. Machar, Speaker Wani Igga, SPLM SG Pagan Amum etc. Design or coincidence?

And while some South Sudanese may see underrepresentation and nepotism in the appointment, others though see it in term of prior experiences and educational qualifications. According to Jouk Hakim, a South Sudanese from Germany, appointment to the diplomatic corps is not about tribes, regions, or state: “the diplomatic corps profession is not about ethnic and states representations, and that is why you can realize that some states do have more diplomats than others. Depending on level of qualifications and success during the examinations to join the diplomatic service when Sudan was still one.”

The question of Gender parity is another fundamental feature of this latest appointment! While womenfolk were deservingly represented during the cabinet formation, receiving over 26% of the portfolios, this is not the case in this newest nomination. Of the 78 ambassadorial appointees, there are only 7 members among them who are females, a paltry percentage of approximately 9%, with males taking a whopping percentage of about 91%. Since the constitution mandate 25% of all appointment to be allocated to the fairer sex, it is important to note that this selection has fallen short of that constitutional requirement. However, according to President Kiir, the problem is lack of competent ladies to fill the 25% positions:

President Salva Kiir Mayardit confessed, he was unable to find enough women to fill the gap among the new ambassadors. He repeated the commitment of the SPLM to empower women.”

That statement from the President is highly misplaced because South Sudan has a good number of women with PhD to fill the required 25%. For example, South Sudan has Dr. Julia Aker Dwany, Dr. Laura Nyantung Ahang, Dr. Pauline Riak, Dr. Jane Edward and Dr. Salwa Beriberi among others.

Lastly, I would like to thank Uncle James Agor (USA), Luke Dak (USA), Gordon Buay (Canada), Thirik Mijak (USA), Tearz Ayuen (South Sudan), Jouk Hakim (Germany), Peter Karlo (USA), and especially those who requested to remain anonymous, for their invaluable assistances in tracking down and identifying the states and regions the ambassadors hail from., thank you! Any error or misrepresentation thereof is of my own making, however.

PaanLuel Wël is the Managing Editor of PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese bloggers. He can be reached through his Facebook page, Twitter account or on the blog: http://paanluelwel2011.wordpress.com/

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PaanLuel Wël

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PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. Founded in July 2011 by PaanLuel Wël to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue, the website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups, and hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.

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