The Office of the President has issued a sweeping new directive intended to overhaul how high-level government appointments and removals are communicated and executed, moving to end public media announcements and tighten control over official documents.
The directive, issued Thursday in a circular from Minister of Presidential Affairs Africano Mande Gedima, mandates an immediate shift to a “discreet, institutionalized protocol” for personnel changes involving officials appointed by presidential prerogative.
Key Changes Announced:
- End of Public Broadcast Announcements: Effective immediately, the government will cease announcing the appointment or relief of senior officials via the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) or any other public broadcast media. Public broadcasting is no longer considered the primary medium for these executive decisions.
- Strict Document Control: It is now “strictly forbidden” to photograph, scan, or post any official document bearing the president’s signature on the internet or social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook and X. Such documents are now classified as “privileged executive communication.”
- Confidential Delivery: All presidential decrees effecting changes must now be delivered confidentially via an official letter directly to the relevant overseeing authority—such as a Speaker of Parliament, National Minister, or State Governor—who is then responsible for internal execution. The Office of the President is barred from serving documents directly to individual appointees.
- Restricted Access & Central Registry: Access to presidential decrees and orders is restricted based on a “need-to-know” principle. A Central Registry will be maintained to monitor the distribution of all decrees and prevent “unauthorized digital footprints.”
- Enforcement & Penalties: The directive warns that obstruction of a presidential decree will be treated as a “grave administrative offense.” Authorities are empowered to initiate immediate legal and administrative actions against officials who refuse to vacate office or facilitate a handover.
- Emphasis on Secrecy: Recipients are “strictly enjoined to maintain maximum confidentiality,” handling the changes as “internal government matters.” Any unauthorized disclosure to the media or public is deemed a “serious breach of official protocol” and will be dealt with under statutory laws.
Scope of the Directive:
The new protocols apply to a wide range of officials, including:
- Members of Parliament in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and Council of States.
- Undersecretaries, senior civil servants, and Ambassadors.
- State-level officials, including advisors, ministers, assembly members, and county commissioners.
- Heads of independent commissions, government institutions, and parastatals.
Rationale and Compliance:
The circular states the objective is to “enhance professional decorum, protect the dignity of the office, and ensure administrative stability.” It is issued under the authority of the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan, 2011 (as amended).
All officials are expected to ensure strict adherence to the order, which takes effect immediately. Responsible authorities must submit a formal “Consolidated Compliance Report” to the Office of the President within 48 hours of executing a decree.
The directive was signed by Minister Africano Mande Gedima in Juba on January 8, 2026.