The Office of the President in South Sudan has released a comprehensive new circular aimed at fundamentally changing the way senior government appointments and dismissals are handled and communicated.
The move eliminates public media broadcasts for most such changes and introduces stricter controls to limit the spread of official documents.
Issued on Thursday (January 8, 2026) by Minister of Presidential Affairs Africano Mande Gedima, the directive establishes an immediate transition to a “discreet and formalized institutional process” for all personnel decisions falling under the president’s direct authority.
Main Provisions of the Directive:
Termination of Public Media Announcements
Starting now, appointments or removals of senior officials will no longer be broadcast through the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) or other public media outlets. Official announcements via state broadcasters are no longer the standard method for conveying these executive actions.
Tight Restrictions on Document Handling
It is explicitly prohibited to photograph, scan, reproduce, or share online (including on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and X) any official document that carries the president’s signature. These documents are now designated as “privileged executive communications.”
Confidential Handover Mechanism
Presidential decrees related to personnel changes must be transmitted privately through an official letter sent directly to the appropriate supervisory body (e.g., the Speaker of Parliament, a national minister, or a state governor). The President’s Office will no longer deliver such documents personally to the affected individuals.
Limited Access and Oversight
Distribution of decrees and orders will follow a strict “need-to-know” basis. A dedicated Central Registry will track all issuances to avoid unauthorized copies or digital traces.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Any interference with the implementation of a presidential decree is classified as a serious administrative violation. Relevant authorities have the power to pursue immediate legal and disciplinary measures against officials who resist leaving office or obstructing the transition process.
Confidentiality Requirement
All recipients are required to treat these matters with the highest level of secrecy, viewing them strictly as internal government affairs. Unauthorized leaks to the media or the public constitute a major violation of official protocol and may trigger action under existing laws.
Officials Covered by the New Rules:
The protocol extends to a broad array of positions, such as:
- Members of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and the Council of States
- Undersecretaries, high-ranking civil servants, and ambassadors
- State-level appointees, including advisors, ministers, legislative members, and county commissioners
- Leaders of independent commissions, state institutions, and parastatals
National ministers and state governors remain exempt from this directive. Their appointments and removals will continue to be announced publicly through presidential channels and state media.
The circular explains that these measures are designed to “promote greater professional dignity, safeguard the prestige of the presidency, and maintain administrative continuity.”
It draws authority from the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan, 2011 (as amended).
The new procedures take effect immediately. All relevant offices are instructed to comply fully, and a “Consolidated Compliance Report” must be submitted to the Office of the President within 48 hours following the execution of any decree.
The document was formally signed by Minister Africano Mande Gedima in Juba on January 8, 2026.
