On 14 August, 2025, the immediate former managing director of South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), James Magok Chilimchok was removed and replaced with John Madol Panther in a presidential decree read on SSBC.
Unlike other presidential decrees which have sent hundred people packing while unaware and unprepared, Magok’s did not come as a surprise for good reasons he was privy to.
Maybe to give you one analytical clue on some of the above-mentioned reasons, one, the fact that Magok spent nearly a decade in office as managing director gave a hint that his time and chance was up for a grab. So, when I saw and read the news of his sacking that evening, I just nodded with acknowledgement and appreciation for Magok, for he deserves the kudos.
In addition, as I was perusing the news on his removal, I asked my question: Since James Magok was still the SSBC Managing Director, until the minutes his decree was read out, was he informed in advance, and if not, did he attempt to cross check it before the decree was aired?
Having stated that, in the history of SSBC, Magok is on record as being one of the long serving managing directors. Indeed, he was privileged and grateful, owing to the smile he put on his face during the handing over ceremony held in his former office.
Magok succeeded his two predecessors namely General Khamis Adel-latif and Adil Faris Mayat both of whom had a short stint as Managing Directors. The tenure of James Magok is four times longer than that of Abdel Latif and Adil Faris combined.
The trio may have different achievements and experiences, but one common thing I know and they know is that they had encountered and experienced the harshness, ruthlessness and strictness of the incumbent Information Minister Honorable Michael Makuei Lueth under whom they operated. The latter being the darling of the regime is obsessed with the concept of leadership entitlement. From the look of things, he is one of the South Sudanese constitutional post holders who suffers from big-man syndrome.
More often than seldom, most leaders purport to be in leadership position/s by a right and not privilege. This wrong belief makes current leaders act contrary to the law because they are not answerable to the public save for the appointing authority.
The secret of Magok’s longevity
I am speaking as one of Magok’s leadership admirers. Nowadays, if you say so and so is a leader, the first question that people ask you is: if he is a leader, what has he survived? The tenure of Magok was not a walk in the park. Evidently, he has had the rough moments which of course made him stronger and equal to the task entrusted to him.
In 2020, prior to the establishment of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU), Magok survived an unprecedented political witch-hunt orchestrated by his detractors in the communication fraternity.
On 17th April 2020, Magok was suspended without pay on unfounded charges of ‘‘intransigence and incompetence.’’ In the ministerial order, he was irregularly suspended and replaced with one Honorable Susan Alponse.
In the wake of this unusual development, we teamed up with him because we knew he was innocent. The so-called suspension was unlawful and unconstitutional. In those days, we felt obliged to protect not just Magok but the constitution and the law of the land.
Legally, we ascertained that the minister acted ultra vires, which also means acting beyond his power and authority. The South Sudanese Journalist and Author Roger Alfred Yoron Modi in his article entitled ‘‘Makuei has no power to suspend the Managing Director,’’ rightly opined that ‘‘First, it should be noted that South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) is not a department within the ministry of information, communication technology and postal services which Michael Makuei Lueth is heading.’’
In view of the above, the longevity of James Magok’s tenure can be attributed to the fact that he is a man of thick skin and unquestionable integrity.
In any case, you can accuse and point blaming fingers at Magok for other things except corruption. James Magok is an ethical professional with strong African and Christian principles of humility and honesty to mention but a few. In pursuit of these principles, Magok keeps his words and he hardly gives up or gives in. For instance, in 2022, there was an attempt to incriminate him following the ‘‘infamous leaked audio’’ which sent more than five journalists behind bars. He however soldiered on until the dust settled.
Clean term and tenure
James Magok left SSBC better than he found it. First, he restored order and calm in the SSBC. If you recall, SSBC used to be marred by leadership wrangles pitting the irate staff and their rogue bosses.
Second, Magok restored professionalism and collegiality in the SSBC. Prior to and shortly after the coming of Magok into office, there were numerous errors and mistakes on television captions which were shown on live screen. More often than not, names and titles of speakers could be mixed or misspelled in a manner that put SSBC into disrepute.
Luckily, the SSBC under Magok has become apolitical as required by law. The Broadcasting Corporation Act 2013 is crystal clear. In bold words, it says that SSBC is a national institution which is answerable to the general public through their august house commonly known as parliament.
Moreover, the law further stipulates inter alia, that the SSBC be transformed into a public entity that is completely independent from the political parties including the twin ruling parties which formed the RTGoNU.
In any event, the matters relating to the SSBC and its management should be handled by the Broadcasting Corporation Act only. Finally, SSBC is an institution in the making. In other words, it is an institution in transition.
In terms of achievements, Magok has helped in constructing a modern SSBC building with a studio that is well furnished with modern equipment that has made SSBC look more colorful than before.
In conclusion, I think Magok has played his part to the best of his abilities, and as such he can walk freely without looking back. Last but not least, on 16 August 2025, author Igara Kabanji in an opinion article published on The Standard newspaper stated that ‘‘you owe your story to those who come after you.’’ I think a decade in office is not a short time.
Therefore, Magok owes the next generation of journalists and future managing directors a story. As I have done here and now, the rest of us can write what we heard and saw, but that would not be sufficient. So, James Magok Chilimchok ought to find a moment to pen his memoir as the long serving Managing Director of the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC).
The Writer, Dak Buoth Riek Gaak, is a Lawyer and Criminologist and a Former Delegate to the High-Level Mediation for South Sudan alias Tumaini Peace Initiative where he represented the South Sudan People’s Movement. He can be reached for comments via eligodakb@yahoo.com
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made is the responsibility of the author, not Radio Tamazuj.