FACT-CHECK: Warrap State Governor Bol Wek Agoth not relieved

Written by Salva Aleu Wol

A viral social media claim alleging that South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has relieved Warrap State governor, Bol Wek Agoth and replaced him with Gen. Aleu Ayieny Aleu is false.

The claim was published by Nation In Review, a Facebook page which further alleged that the chief administrators of Pibor and Abyei were also removed, alongside unspecified leadership changes in Lakes, Upper Nile and Western Bahr el-ghazal states.

According to the post, the alleged changes could not be verified because the Minister in the Office of the President had banned airing of Presidential decrees on the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation.

The post quickly gained traction, attracting reactions, comments and shares amid public confusion following a recent presidential circular on media announcements.

Press enter or click to view image in full size

Debunking the Claim:

The ClarityDesk investigated the claim by reviewing the official communication channels, recent presidential decrees and the content of the presidential circular referenced in the post.

No presidential decrees have been issued relieving Governor Bol Wek Agoth or appointing Hon. Aleu Ayieny Aleu as Governor of Warrap State. Similarly, no official announcement has been made regarding the removal of the Chief Administrators of Pibor or Abyei, or leadership changes in the other named states.

The Presidential circular cited by Nation in Review doesn’t apply to state governors or chief administrators. The directives issued by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs restrict the airing of certain Presidential decrees through SSBC and other media outlets but explicitly exempts Vice Presidents, Presidential Advisors, National Ministers, State Governors and Chief Administrators. Office of the President.

This means that any appointment or removal of governors or chief administrators would still be officially announced by the State TV. The link to the viral claim can be found here, and the presidential circular can also be found here

Our Verdict

The ClarityDesk finds the claim alleging the removal of the Warrap State governor Bol Wek Agoth and other State leaders to be false.

The claim is unsupported by any official Presidential decree or credible source. The presidential circular referenced doesn’t prevent the public announcement of changes involving governors or chief administrators, making the claim misleading.

Have you spotted an error in this article and would like to request a correction, or have you come across a claim that we should investigate? Please send us an email via editor@claritydesk.org or click here to WhatsApp us via +211 928 606 958.