President Kiir and Tut Gatluak Manime posing in a photo in Juba. |File photo|.
In an unprecedented move on Friday evening, South Sudan President Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit fired his advisor on National Security Affairs, Tut Gatluak Manime, who doubled as the chairperson of the National Transitional Committee (NTC), the body charged with overseeing the implementation of the security arrangements protocol of the revitalized peace agreement.
President Kiir hand-picked Tut Gatluak in 2016 following the renewed conflict in Juba, which abrogated the 2015 peace agreement signed between the government and armed opposition groups. His appointment, together with nine other presidential advisers, drew criticism from opposition groups who described the appointment as unilateral and violates the revitalized peace agreement.
Some critics alleged that Tut Gatluak’s appointment was aimed at frustrating the rapid growth of the main opposition group, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army In-Opposition, under the leadership of Riek Machar Teny, the long-time political rival of President Salva Kiir.
Following his appointment in 2016, supporters and sympathizers of the SPLM/A-IO on several occasions accused Tut Gatluak of influencing the commanders of the movement to defect to the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) commanded by Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit.
During his nine years in office, thousands of SPLM/A-IO forces and other opposition groups defected to the ruling party and SSPDF, allegedly fulfilling his critical tasks to weaken the opposing camps.
As usual, President Salva Kiir did not disclose the reason behind the sacking of his long-time aide. The changes came a few days after the 30 hotels in Juba threatened to take legal action against the government of South Sudan.
Tut Gatluak was in charge of overseeing the accommodation of the delegates and senior commanders of the parties that signed the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.
The thirty hotels, on 6 January 2025, sued the government of South Sudan to the East African Court of Justice for what they call ‘unpaid hotel and accommodation services rendered to officials’ and are seeking $60m in punitive and general damages incurred by their businesses.
In a series of publican decrees announced on the state-owned television on Friday evening, President Kiir named Tut Gatluak the special envoy on Middle East affairs, to maintain his political allegiance and support.
