Ateny Wek Ateny is a South Sudanese journalist and lawyer who worked as Salva Kiir Mayardit's press secretary from 2013 to 2022.

Career

Prior to his government role, he worked as a lawyer, and as a journalist[1] and columnist for The Citizen Daily newspaper.

Ateny was worked as the press secretary for South Sudanese president Salva Kiir Mayardit from November 2013,[2][3] until being fired in 2022.[1] He was the third Press Secretary in the Office of the President and the longest serving one.[2][4] Prior to his appointment, Ateny was known for his public criticism of President Kiir's administration.[5][6] Ateny's appointment was described by many advocates and political analysts as an attempt to silence the critics from derailing the image of the South Sudan's political leaders.[7] On his second international trip with the president, Ateny clashed with Kiir, refusing to leave a meeting with the president of Uganda.[8] Ateny's relationship with Kiir was strained after the Uganda trip and he worked in isolation, and in tension with the other staff at Office of the President, without access to senior officials.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "South Sudan President Salva Kiir fires his Press Secretary Ateny Wek Ateny". The East African. 2022-08-08. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  2. 1 2 Ninrew, Chany (2022-08-06). "Kiir sacks longtime Press Secretary Ateny Wek". Eye Radio. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  3. ↑ Kiir appoints newspaper commentator as press secretary, Sudan Tribune, November 27, 2013
  4. ↑ "Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek sacked". Radio Tamazuj. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  5. ↑ "South Sudan President Salva Kiir fires his Press Secretary Ateny Wek Ateny". The East African. 2022-08-08. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  6. ↑ "South Sudan President Salva Kiir fires his Press Secretary Ateny Wek Ateny". Pachodo.org. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  7. ↑ Joshua, Elvince (2022-08-09). "This man Ateny: Pressman who 'loved women', humour and controversy". The City Review South Sudan. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  8. 1 2 Ateny flip-flopping, where is his loyalty to President Kiir?, Chuor Deng Chuor, Sudan Tribune
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