For the past six months or a year, the President of South Sudan has been somehow fair and genuine in his choice of leaders that he appoints to different institutions of government.
This is not to ignore the fact that these appointees must have been introduced to him by some of his close Allies and/or altogether, indidividually toiled to secure his attention and got appointed, whatever that might have let to this paradigm shift in the political appointments as recently observed, the end justifies the means.
Now, with the appointments of young and middle age cadres like Lam Both, Bol Mel, Barnaba Bak, Puot Kang, Malual Tap, Albino Bol, Amuor Makeny, Alic Garang, the Young lady at the Central Bank, Kuol Ayulo, Beny Gideon, Marial Gumke, Africano Monday, the lady at the Ministry of Health, Paul Adok, but to mention a few to some of the strategic national positions, the President and his advisors have demonstrated that they are not only making the government inclusive but also aspiring to inject new blood and resuscitate the country from its potential collapse at all aspects.
The appointments have raised and restored hopes among young people as energy, knowledge and skills as well as merits are being considered for political appointments.
Despite these positive developments, the President, his advisors and all of us, ordinary citizens and the appointees as mentioned above must be conscious of the following issues:
- Appointments today and removal tomorrow can lead into two consequences: one, people will not learn how to work as they would not have ample time to concentrate on their tasks because they would be worried of being sacked, so the President should give these officials time to work such that they can deliver on their tasks as assigned to them without fear of being disappointed;
- The young leaders as recently appointed should not be so excited with the positions that they have just received and start saying things that are not relevant to their positions and mandates, I have just seen and heard a few of them already talking about being appointed to help President Kiir wins the 2024 elections, that should be something that can be discussed at the political caucus grapevine of a given political party but not the main reason why they are appointed to different institutions, so my young leaders should refrain from these excitements else it may backfire;
- There need to be cooperation among the young and middle age politicians that have just received prestigious presidential appointments with those old dudes to avoid any sun-rise/sun-set scenario as this will paralyze the government programs and engage the two groups in fighting for political supremacy;
- There should also be cordial relationship among the youth themselves such that together, they can help their brothers and sisters who are now in the government to take this country to the next level;
- Last but not the least which I think is most important in all these issues is for the President to protect these young men and women from gossipers and exert adequate political will by granting these new appointees political and administrative autonomy to run their institutions and only reports to him or his Allie’s without any intimidation and interference.
If the President meant good on his recent political baptism for the youth and middle age politicians, then he needs to keep doing this until the end of the Transitional Period or up to the time for elections because it is these people that can help transit the country from the current political, social and economic stalemates.
I applaud the ones that are advising the President especially at this particular time where he is giving young people the opportunities to show-case their knowledge and skills in the political landscape of our great country.
The ball is now in the court of the young people that have been given such opportunities to demonstrate the leadership that they are equal to the task and can deliver on their responsibilities without being cowed around.
This, if done successfully, will open the way more wider for their other colleagues who are now outside the fence as political spectators in the affairs of their own country.
Once again, I thank the President for this good political gestures for the youth and I wish him all the best as he issues more decrees in the coming months!
Advocate Juma Mabor Marial.