JUBA – President Salva Kiir has sparked fresh controversy following the appointment of his biological daughter, Adut Salva Kiir, as the presidential envoy on special programmes in an announcement made on state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation Wednesday evening, sparking fresh controversy.
The position in which Adut has been appointed was previously held by Benjamin Bol Mel, who has been elevated to the presidency, replacing Dr. James Wani Igga as the Vice President and Chairman of the Economic Cluster in February.
The role has been vacant since then until Wednesday’s appointment of Adut, who is also the Founder of the Adut Salva Kiir Foundation.
In the context of South Sudan, the Presidential Envoy on Special Programmes is appointed to handle priority national tasks that require direct oversight from the Presidency. The position exists to bridge gaps between ministries and ensure that urgent or politically sensitive programmes receive the necessary coordination and authority for timely implementation.
The envoy’s work often relates to peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and post-conflict recovery. This includes coordinating with government institutions, humanitarian agencies, and development partners on issues such as resettlement of displaced persons, rehabilitation of war-affected communities, and delivery of essential services in conflict-affected areas. Because these issues cut across multiple ministries, the envoy provides a centralised channel for decision-making and reporting to the President.
Additionally, the envoy may oversee special development projects championed by the Presidency, such as infrastructure rehabilitation, food security interventions, or youth and women empowerment programmes. By working directly under the President, the office ensures that these initiatives move forward without being stalled by bureaucratic hurdles.
In essence, the role is about giving political weight and coordination power to urgent programmes that demand cross-government collaboration, while also strengthening engagement with international partners to mobilise resources and support for national priorities.
However, the ineffectiveness of this position has repeatedly come under public scrutiny during the tenure of Bol Mel in a country where poor service delivery to the citizens and a dire humanitarian situation characterised the Kiir regime.
