Machar’s ‘bad’ selection of secretary-generals blamed for Tingo’s resignation

JUBA – The resignation of SPLM-IO secretary-general Tingo Peter from the main armed opposition group is due to poor selection of candidates for the most important job of the main armed opposition group, according to ex-SPLM-IO official.

Agel Machar, a one-time ally of SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar and former Press Secretary for former First Vice President Taban Deng Gai (now vice-president) criticized in a social media writing Machar’s mode of selecting officials for the job.

Agel said politicians with interests in serving as ministers or in separate capacity at the same time shouldn’t be appointed because, according to him, the secretary-general position, is a full-time job.

“It has always been a very bad idea to pick Secretary Generals who are strongly interested in also being appointed to the Executive as Ministers or Governors. I remember arguing that case with my former boss Riek Machar in Pagak in 2015 in vain when I contested against Dhieu Mathok for the position of SG,” Agel wrote.

“Secretary General is the Chief Administrator of the Movement/Party. It’s a full time job as it is,” he argued adding: “Picking a person who also wants to be appointed into the Executive is highly counterproductive/Counterintuitive. If they get appointed as Ministers or Governors, then they will not have the time for the party, and if denied the appointment they get very frustrated.”