Presidential Advisor on Legal Affairs Telar Ring Deng has denied the authenticity of a letter “allegedly written by me,” while threatening action against a newspaper that reported on the letter.

The letter had been circulated online before being picked up by the online daily Sudan Tribune. A South Sudanese satire site appears to be the first to have claimed to have obtained the letter. The comedy site insisted that the letter was real. 

The letter purports to be a reflection of Telar’s views on the political situation, addressed to the president. It describes the Equatoria region as “slippery,” saying that the people there could not be completely trusted, while still recommending presidential appointments from the area.

Sudan Tribune’s article, headlined ‘Kiir’s legal advisor wants VP Igga appointed chief negotiator,’ quoted from the letter that purported to be from Telar Deng.

In response, the legal advisor stated, “I strongly demand that the source of the article in contention be revealed to me.” He further demanded an apology and threatened legal action for the “malicious and defamatory” report.

Telar emphasized, “I wish to categorically state that at no time did I ever author such an Advisor letter to H.E. the President.”

He pointed out that the letter was not signed or dated, and was not printed on letterhead or bearing the seal of his office.

Yesterday the same satire website published a further report that claimed to rely on another “leaked confidential letter believed to be written and submitted for consideration to the President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit.”

The new report by the satirical website purported to give Telar Deng’s perspective on how the president should reshuffle the cabinet. 

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Today’s FORUM discussion on Facebook: Have sanctions against Marial Chanuong and Peter Gadet had any impact on the crisis in South Sudan?