A South Sudanese advocacy organization has urged the Office of the President to clarify the duties of the newly appointed Senior Presidential Envoy for Special Programs, Hon. Adut Salva Kiir.
The Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) expressed concerns that a lack of clear communication could create confusion and overlap with existing government roles.
The appointment of Adut Salva Kiir, President Salva Kiir’s daughter, was announced on August 20, 2025, on the state-run SSBC. She succeeds Benjamin Bol Mel, who now serves as the First Vice President for the economic cluster.
In a press statement, CPA Executive Director Ter Manyang emphasized the need for transparency.
“As a human rights organization monitoring governance issues in South Sudan, we urge the Office of the President to provide clear communication to the public regarding the mandate of the Presidential Envoy,” he stated.
CPA highlighted that the traditional role of a presidential envoy is to represent the president in diplomatic or foreign affairs, not to manage government programs or allocate budgets.
The further organization noted a growing public perception that the new envoy’s office might be involved in implementing services like healthcare and education or intervening in political matters.
“In our understanding, a Presidential Envoy is not an implementing agency. Rather, it functions within the framework of the President’s office, with a focused duty of carrying the President’s message or undertaking specific diplomatic missions,” the statement read.
To prevent duplication and promote efficiency across government institutions, the CPA also called on the Ministry of Labour to develop and publicize clear job descriptions for all senior government positions.
