A few days ago, the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Paul Nang, travelled to Jonglei State together with other top security officials, including the Director of National Security (Internal Bureau) and the Inspector General of Police, to assess the security situation on the ground. While there, he reportedly reassured SSPDF forces that they were heading to war and that it would only take seven days to wipe out SPLA-IO forces.
Shortly after, this message was echoed and reinforced by Agwelek commander Gen. Johnson Olony, who is fighting alongside the SSPDF. His statements went even further, ordering forces to spare no one, including the elderly and livestock. Such reckless and dangerous remarks sent a very clear signal that the country was moving toward full-scale war.
This position was further affirmed by the SSPDF spokesperson, Brig. Lul Ruai Koang, when he issued a public statement giving an ultimatum to civilians, humanitarian workers, and SPLA-IO forces not interested in fighting the government to evacuate and hand over their weapons. This was a clear and official communication from the army, and it strongly suggested that military operations were imminent.
However, just recently, the government spokesperson and Minister of Information, Ateny Wek Ateny, publicly rubbished all these statements. He said the government had distanced itself from Gen. Olony’s remarks and insisted that South Sudan is not heading to war. He also denied that civilians were asked to evacuate despite the fact that a letter to that effect was publicly issued by the army spokesperson.
This contradiction raises a serious and troubling question: who is really in charge?
But to answe this question, what the public needs to understand is that Paul Nang, Johnson Olony, and Lul Ruai Koang are military men. They speak from a military perspective and communicate what is happening on the battlefield. They are not politicians. There is no politics in war planning they speak in terms of operations and intentions.
On the other hand, Ateny Wek Ateny is a politician. As government spokesperson, his role is to protect the image of the government in the eyes of the public and the international community. His job is to manage perception, reduce panic, and maintain diplomatic credibility. That is the nature of public relations.
This does not necessarily mean he is lying. it means he is doing his job as a politician and government communicator: shaping the narrative to preserve public trust and government legitimacy.
Ateny Wek cannot speak for the army, and the army does not speak for the Ministry of Information. Brig. Lul Ruai communicates the position of the SSPDF. Ateny Wek communicates the position of the government.
The difference is the latter is a politician and government spokesperson whose role is to say what spunds good on the Camera and the former are military men who bare the responsibility of preparing for war and communicating its operations.
