How did the issue of succession of the president come up in the supposedly Warrap’s Forum?

By: Ateny Wek Ateny, Juba, South Sudan

Sunday, 8 June 2025 (PW) – I listened to the video of Gen. Aleu Ayieny Aleu delivering his statement at the organised occasion of the newly appointed Governor of Warrap State’s residence in Juba, and it was quite spectacular. As usual, General Aleu has interestingly touched a number of issues. I like the way he is always frank and bold. Gen. Aleu speaks frankly on issues others wouldn’t dare to.

I believe in, no I belong to Gen. Aleu’s school of thought, particularly when it comes to what I want to say. However, I disagree with Gen. Aleu’s statement regarding the issue of the members of the Red Army (Jiesh el Hammar) at 55 years of age, and the allegation that Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel had the ambition to succeed president Salva Kiir.

Gen. Aleu asked this question, and I quote “Can the Red Army be 55 years old?” He also cited the fact that the same positions held by Dr. Benjamin Bol now, were held by Dr. James Wani for 12 years, but he never succeeded president Kiir. It is true Wani did not succeed the president, but how many times can one president be succeeded?

I bet Gen. Aleu is aware that the Red Army was a movement project of disarming child soldiers until they were fully grown to take the role in combat. Within the red army project, the Lost Boys and Lost Girls program was undertaken. Now, some of the best educated South Sudanese class comes from Lost Boys/Girls. They were meant to be future leaders in the anticipated liberated South Sudan. It shouldn’t be a crime today for them to aspire or even vie for the highest position in the land.

Notwithstanding, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel has never stated, privately or publicly, that he is the potential successor of president Kiir. The speculations that Bol might be groomed to replace president Kiir emanates from sycophants (Lurbääng) and Benjamin’s detractors. While sycophants say this to gain acceptance from Dr. Benjamin, the detractors say it in an attempt to drive a wedge between Dr. Benjamin and president Salva Kiir Mayardit. Otherwise, no citizen should be shamed for aspiring to the presidency.

As long as Dr. Benjamin is not willing to unseat the president through illegal means, or wish the president’s death, he is not bad for aspiring to be the president, if God gives him the chance. It shouldn’t bother anyone. Becoming a president is not always done in the order of political seniority. God can pave the way for anyone, even if you aren’t the next in line. President Kiir was number four in lie, but he still became the president on Independence Day because God paved the way for him. There is no gainsaying that president Kiir, in bestowing trust upon Dr. Benjamin Bol, was not intending succession.

The succession is an issue for the SPLM and cannot be individually decided by the president. President Kiir was aware that when Dr. John Garang died mysteriously in a Chopper crash on July 2005, he could not assume the position without due process. Kiir had to reinstate the then dissolved leadership council in order to endorse his accession to the leadership seat. President Kiir organised the meeting with the leadership council on August 1st, 2005, but he didn’t take the chairman seat until Gen. Kuol Manyang asked him to sit, seconded by the late Elijah Malok Aleng.

What is not clear here? The succession has never been an easy issue. So, people should leave Dr. Benjamin alone. The president is yet to decide on who should be his successor. Dr. Bol has the trust of the president for now and this is his God-given right. He will not be the first or the last to become Vice president and not succeed the president.

Finally, I think Gen. Aleu’s statement was misplaced. It was not required during that occasion, whether Dr. Benjamin was to succeed the president or not. As a former Governor himself, Gen. Aleu Ayieny should have advised Gen. Amb. Bol Wek Agoth on the issues that unseat governors in Warrap in a year or less. At least this was what Amb. Bol was looking for. I am cognizant that Gen. Aleu gave advice to his predecessors, except for his immediate predecessor (the one who replaced him).

So, as a public speaker of grade one, Gen. Aleu should not have said so many unnecessary things. There were more issues on which to advise Amb. Bol Wek than to create the unnecessary controversy. Otherwise, I rest my case from here.

If you want to submit an opinion article, commentary, or news analysis, please email it to the editor: info@paanluelwel.com or paanluel2011@gmail.com. PaanLuel Wël Media (PW) website does reserve the right to edit or reject material before publication. Please include your full name, a short biography, email address, city, and the country you are writing from.