The author of this opinion article praises South Sudan’s Presidential Press Secretary for his writing ability but questions whether he should be a regular columnist for a new newspaper, The Juba Telegraph. The press secretary was a columnist for The Citizen newspaper before his appointment to his current position in the Presidency last year.
The press Secretary of the President of South Sudan, Mr. Ateny Wek Ateny announced publicly last weekend that he his coming back with his writings; not for previous “beating the drum of truth” of The Citizen newspaper but, on the “Serious Observation” column in the newly established, The Juba Telegraph. So far, a couple of his articles are published by The Juba Telegraph on his “Serious Observation” column.
Mr. Ateny is a great prolific writer as he has shown during his time with The Citizen newspaper before his current assignment. Although he was a fierce critic of government, his articles were largely researched, constructive and objective. No doubt he can perform much better in his new column with The Juba Telegraph.
However, the assignment he has in President’s Office will put him in awkward position. He is the Press Secretary in the highest political office of the country, a very sensitive position. It is sensitive because he is dealing with communication of which anything he says is taken seriously.
Moreover, President’s Office is always under public scrutiny by the citizens and even beyond country’s borders. With President’s Press Secretary writing regularly on public issues, he is likely to be taken out of context.
We may say that it is his constitution right to express his personal thoughts, but Mr. Ateny will find it difficult to draw a line between his personal opinions and those of the Presidency or government. Obviously, his current job is likely to blur out all these borders. And whatever he might be writing in his “serious Observation” page would be seen as views of the government or Presidency per se.
Apparently, Mr. Ateny’s job is basically communication on behalf of the President. Writing articles for newspaper publication may fall within his job description. However, to do this kind of job regularly on private or personal level while holding such sensitive position is a difficult situation to undertake without causing controversy.
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