The official appointed by South Sudanese President Salva Kiir last September to head the government television and radio service has accused Minister of Information Michael Makuei of slander, racism and incitement of violence.

Khamis Abdel-Latif is the Director General of South Sudan Radio and Television (SSTV) and former Advisor for Security in the Ministry of Interior. He says that the minister has fabricated information about him and spread lies and rumors.

The dispute between the two men broke into an open power struggle at the state-run TV and radio last month. Makuei attempted to remove Khamis by ministerial order, but the latter challenged the legality of the move saying a presidential appointee cannot be removed by ministerial order.

The feud has prompted the intervention of the Presidency, including Minister in the Office of the President Awan Guol, but no solution has been forthcoming so far.  

Late last month the SSTV director traveled to Nairobi amid rumors that he had defected to the opposition – a claim he denied. Khamis then returned to Juba and was publically quiet for about two weeks.

Now, the SSTV director has again denounced Makuei. In an open letter dated 12 December, Khamis describes the information minister as “a tribal and racist man.”

“The Minister requested me not to give chances on Television to artists from Nuer Tribe. The Minister wanted the Television to be for him and also for war,” he says.

Khamis also writes that the minister asked that SPLA information officer Brigadier Malaak Ayuen appear four times per week to talk about politics and war.

“Brigadier Malaak is talking politics and polishing tribe… Brigadier Malaak attacks state policies and does not talk in military matters only,” reads the letter.

The letter also says that the minister’s conduct at peace talks in Addis Ababa has been “detrimental to the path of peace, security and stability of the Republic of South Sudan.”

“H.E. the Minister is a graduate of Law but is talkative and provocative, arrogant and proud and does not work by the law and constitution.”

These written statements echo remarks made by the same official in an interview with Radio Tamazuj in early November, when he accused the information minister of trying to fuel violence and downplay peace efforts.

“We differ with Makuei, because Makuei he wants national television to be a television of war. …I said no, we want this TV working for peace, not for war.”

“He doesn’t want programmes of peace in the TV …. really Makuei doesn’t not want peace in South Sudan,” the official told Radio Tamazuj.

Makuei has yet to respond to these allegations. 

Related:

S Sudan state TV director slams info minister for overstepping powers (27 Nov.)

Former SSTV boss denies defection to rebels (20 Nov.)

South Sudan state radio currently off-air in Juba (5 Nov.)

Open power struggle at South Sudan state TV (5 Nov.)

UNMISS accuses S. Sudan minister of false statements (24 Apr.)

S. Sudan minister says slain Bor civilians were ‘intolerable’, ‘rebels’ (19 Apr.)