South Sudan’s government has expressed concern that the order on the singing of the country’s national anthem was 'misrepresented'.
Information Minister Michael Makuei announced last week that President Salva Kiir banned anyone from singing the national anthem unless he is present.
He said that different officials were playing the anthem at whim, which was an abuse of the national tune, noting that order was issued during the cabinet meeting.
"For the information of everybody the national anthem is only meant for the president, in a function only attended by the president, not for everybody," Makuei said.
The order has caused public outcry.
However, the Council of Ministers today said the national government hadn’t banned the public from singing the national anthem. “The council noted with great concern the misrepresentation of the resolution that was passed about the national anthem last week,” said Lily Albino Akol, South Sudan’s deputy minister of information.
“The council notes that the national anthem is the national song of South Sudan. It is a song that we all sing collectively because it represents our values, so there is no way the council or government can ban the people of South Sudan from singing it,” she added.
The deputy minister pointed out that the order was only meant for government officials during events. “It was a directive to constitutional post holders, government officials, governors and commissioners when they are representing the government. We should adhere to state protocols when singing the national anthem,” she stressed.
“It is very important for us as government to clarify that to ourselves so that when we are representing our country, we are representing it in the best image. However, the singing of the national anthem in different events will continue to be there,” she said.
The national anthem was written shortly before independence in July 2011.