Government spokesperson and Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services, Ateny Wek Ateny, has dismissed widespread speculation that authorities are planning to arrest Ambassador Garang Deng Aguer, describing the claims as unfounded rumours circulating on social media.
Speaking during a gathering organized by the Aweil South Football Association at Yam Hotel on Saturday evening, Ateny challenged those spreading the allegations to provide evidence that any arrest warrant had been issued against the senior diplomat.
The minister said there was no official order authorizing the arrest of Garang Deng and questioned why sections of the public had become convinced that security agencies were preparing to detain him.
“If Akol Koor, who was the head of National Security, got arrested, then who is Garang Deng Aguer not to be arrested if there is a plan to arrest him?” Ateny asked.
The remarks came amid growing online claims that security agencies were preparing to move against Garang Deng following recent political comments that attracted widespread attention on social media.
The rumours prompted concern among some of his supporters, with reports circulating that groups of youths had gathered around his residence amid fears that authorities could attempt to arrest him.
Ateny dismissed the reports as baseless and argued that if there were genuine legal grounds for an arrest, no amount of public mobilization would prevent law enforcement agencies from carrying out their duties.
He said the actions of youths who reportedly spent the night around Garang’s residence were unnecessary because no arrest warrant had been issued.
According to the minister, the government’s position remains that no individual is above the law, but equally, no person should be subjected to arrest based on speculation and rumours.
Ateny pointed to the arrest of former National Security chief Akol Koor Kuc as evidence that seniority or influence does not place anyone beyond the reach of the law if authorities determine there are legitimate grounds for legal action.
He maintained, however, that in the case of Garang Deng, there was no indication that security agencies were pursuing him and no warrant had been issued.
The minister further described the allegations as “social media propaganda,” accusing individuals behind the rumours of creating unnecessary anxiety among the public.
His intervention appeared aimed at calming tensions after days of online discussion surrounding Garang Deng’s security and political future.
The controversy emerged after comments made by the ambassador in recent weeks sparked debate across social and political circles, leading some observers to speculate that his outspoken views could attract a government response.
While Ateny’s remarks sought to dismiss those fears, they also underscored the sensitivity surrounding political discourse in South Sudan, where comments by prominent public figures often generate intense public attention.
During the same event, Ateny also turned his attention to local politics in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, expressing confidence that he could quickly rebuild political support among the people of Aweil.
The minister said his responsibilities in government had limited the amount of time he could devote to grassroots political engagement in his home area.
“I know how to win the support of Aweil people. Had I not been tasked with government assignments, I would regain it within two days,” he said.
Ateny did not elaborate on the specific strategies he would employ to regain the support he referred to, but his remarks suggested a belief that his political standing in the area remains recoverable despite criticism from some quarters.
For now, however, attention remains focused on his firm rejection of claims that Garang Deng faces imminent arrest, with the government insisting that no legal process has been initiated against the ambassador and that reports suggesting otherwise are without foundation.
