Dr. Machar’s Former Spokesman Says He is Still The “Official Spokesman” But He Needs Higher Position
South Sudan’s First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar and his former spokesman, James Gatdet(Photo credit: unknown)
April 12, 2020(SSNN) — James Gatdet Dak, a former Spokesman to Dr. Riek Machar Teny, hints that he is still the “Official Spokesman” of the country’s First Vice President, a position that he has not held for more than 3 years.
Publicly responding to anecdotal claims from private conversations with friends, Dak said he has not been removed as the official spokesman but he feels that he needs a change to a higher position that may pay better.
“I also told them that I have not been removed from my previous position as Official Spokesman or Press Secretary, only that I felt I wanted to change this role. I have discussed it with the leadership.” Dak said in his public response.
The former press secretary’s response came after he has been left out from ministerial appointments claiming that many people who want him appointed as a minister have been sending him messages;
“Many people for months now—since February—have been sending me private messages. They have been asking me why I had not been appointed as a minister. They questioned and criticized almost everything in the selection or nomination processes for the appointments.” He claims.
“If you don’t yell and kick like others, you would not be appointed to a high political position. People are grabbing positions” Gatdet quotes unverified sources.
Although he believes that he has not been relieved by his former boss, Gatdet is still weighing options but he believes that the majority of people who are contacting him do not want him to return to his former job because it is “risky and has no money”
“majority of those who have been communicating with me do not want me to return to this previous role as Press Secretary. Some say I should be promoted. Some say the position of Press Secretary is risky and has no money.” Mr. Dak said.
“Unless I get appointed to a high political position, I may not get money to take care of my family, etc., they told me. You cannot even build a decent house or buy a private car for your family, they say.” The former press secretary quotes his friends.
Contrary, Dr. Machar replaced his spokesman, James Gatdet, more than three years ago while he was serving dentention in the capital, Juba.
Pursuant to the resolutions of the SPLM-IO political Bureau of September 23, 2016, Dr. Machar appointed late Lam John Kuei Lam as his spokesman, effective from January 11, 2017.
“Pursuant to the resolutions of the SPLM Political Bureau September 23, 2016 and SPLM (IO) constitution, I Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, Chairman and Commander-in-Chief, SPLM/SPLA (IO), do hereby appoint Cde Lam John Kuei Lam as Press Secretary in the Office of the Chairman with effect from 11 January 2017,” Machar’s 11 January 2017 letter reads in part.
It is not clear if the former spokesman was briefed of his replacement while in prison, however, by the time he was released the spokesman’s position felt vacant again as Gatdet’s replacement succumbed to a controversial fist fight with a colleague in Khartoum, Sudan.
The then Official Spokesman, late Lam John Kuei Lam, died suddenly in October 2017 following a fist fight with a colleague who later turned himself in to police in Khartoum.
Since October 2017, Machar did not appoint another spokesman and neither did he reinstate his former spokesman upon his released at the beginning of 2019.
Gatdet, whose family got resettled to Europe while he was in prison, decided to return to East Africa and continued to closely monitor South Sudan politics.
“On the other hand, my family or children also want me to visit them first or stay with them for sometime in a far place after many years of not seeing them or supporting them as a bread winner. Well, I thank all those who genuinely wished me a “High Political” position. But I always say there is next time. No rush!” James Gatdet writes on social media.
Gatdet was arrested at the beginning of November, 2016 and deported to Juba by Kenyan government on allegation of fueling conflict through “hate speeches” on Kenyan soil.
He was released through a Republican Decree on December 31, 2018 by President Kiir as a good-will gesture for Machar’s voluntary return to Juba without proper security arrangement to “celebrate the signing of September 2018 peace agreement” that is yet to be implemented.
On the appointment of ministerial positions, Gatdet’s Eastern Nuer or Jikany-Nuer sub-tribe, has been in a big battle over what is believed to be their ministerial position, the Ministry of Petroleum. Eastern-Jikany has seen defection of senior generals and intellectuals over controversial appointment of Hon. Puot Kang and others in preference of more experienced and heavy weight politicians and military generals that include Hon. Dak Duop Bichiok, Lt. Gen. Duer Tut Duer among others who are more senior and more experienced than both Gatdet and Puot.
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