The Director General of South Sudan Radio and Television Khamis Abdulatif Chuwal Lom sent a scorching letter to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting accusing the minister of “overstepping of laws and constitution” in attempting to remove him from his position. 

Earlier this month, Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth issued a statement on radio and television demanding Abdulatif transfer from that post to an unassigned position in the information ministry. Abdulatif said this violates last month’s presidential order appointing him to head state media outlets, including SSTV. 

“Can the minister of interior issue an order to transfer the Inspector General of Police to prisons administration? … Can the Minister of Defense order transfer of Driector General of Military Intelligence to any other military unit?” said Abdulatif.

“If you answer is no then what is so special about the ministerial order by Minister of Information and Broadcasting H.E. Michael Makuei Lueth to transfer Director General of Radio and television without the consent of H.E. the President of the Republic?”

He accused the ministry of storming state television offices, shutting regular programming and demanding an employee read the decree on air.

In a public letter to Garang Deng Chol, the undersecretary of the ministry of information, Abdulatif said, “The way things are being done in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is not found anywhere in the world.”

He also hinted at “excessive corruption” within the information ministry, though did not offer any evidence.

File photo: Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth

Related: 

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