11/09/2025
Clarification on my criticism for Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel and his perceived sacrosanctity
By: Ateny Wek Ateny
Juba, November 9th, 2025
I promised my readership yesterday, that I would be writing to clear the air in respect of all allegations against me for questioning Dr. Benjamin Bol’s public duties. However, I delayed writing beyond expected timeline, to read all the comments pro and against BBM, listens to videos, audios on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and even on Twitter to reflect on what should be my direction in the course of exercising my legal and Constitutional rights to Freedom of Expression. I was alarmed by the level in which my people of Aweil takes public issues.
I bet the notion that the people of Aweil are the most peaceful, is no longer in place. Our peace is no longer peaceful. Peace is not a statue built to reflect on the past greatness, but a behavior transferable over generations which manifest on civilization of people who are believed to be peaceful. No savagery is peaceful.
I did not only feel the danger in how our people from Aweil community practices double standards. I also think South Sudanese from elsewhere are seeing this too. It is unfortunate. My only hope is that, prominent people, real intellectuals, academia, civilized and people of integrity with clear checkable and traceable backgrounds in Aweil society did not comments. It is either, they have agreed or disagreed with me in silence.
It is my assumption that these category in my beloved Aweil society, have understood that my criticism of Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel isn’t personal. Only Angäthwäng (Jeing Rek of Paliet’s word for trivial personalities) are the one causing havoc online. The Lurbäǎng (Jieng Agäär’ word for “eaters”) are also involved. The disgusting videos and live shows that were aired online and offline, were far fetched and wanting. The savagery in those video and live shows makers can never be controlled.
One time, a friend told me that, “if you want anything to get lost, or receive unreasonable conclusions, then take it to Social media”. Like the Kenyan writer Ngügï wa Thiong’o described Prison as “the house for all where the convicted minister, MP, pickpocket, Chef, and a Chicken-f**ker eat together the same food and discuss issues in equal terms”. Social media is a place where astute, intellectually nimble, illiterate, semi-illiterate, civilized, intelligent, savage and idiots, all get the opportunity to attempt to air their views, even when some views are savage-like.
Some Angäthwäng have accused me of killings and arresting the son/daughters of Aweil during my 9 years tenure as Press Secretary in the Office of the President. Some were even challenging me to show them what did I achieve during those years as Press Secretary that can be closed to what Dr. Benjamin Bol has achieved in a short period of time”. They cited Juba-Bor road, manufacturing maize flour which our agriculture doesn’t even produce, constructing Juba city roads among others.
How did I kill the sons and daughters of Aweil during my tenure? What did I use when unlike Dr. Benjamin Bol who is the same rank with the President, had the power even to control the Central Bank, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Patroluim and NRA?. He even managed to effect the arrest of the serving First Vice President who came to Juba through the agreement, and bartered Hussien Abdelbagi Akol’s position for his own? If, being appointed by the President make people immune from public criticism, then why did it not happen to me? Am I less Aweilian than BBM, or just double standards at best?
As Press Secretary, what else do these people want me to have achieved outside media outlets?. Media is an intellectual property and cannot be felt in pockets, unlike the economy. For 9 years, I was never given any cargo of crude oil, so that I could fail to do anything tangible. I never received even $100,000 dollars cash from any source one time in my 9 years tenure. So, what is this naive comparison between my achievements and that of Dr. BBM? If, you want to know what I did in my assignment, then go to find videos of my interviews with various local, regional and international media. It is not like seeing food on the table each time the cargo of crude oil is approved for roads construction. It requires brains to find what is in the media.
Little do those Angäthwäng distinguishes different between those personal criticisms runs by their like, and the constructive one like mine. How are they expecting BBM to be accounting to public? Should we treat Benjamin as a man falling from heaven? How can a man like President Kiir who did not come from heaven, appoint a man from paradise?
Hon. Mabior Riiny Lual (a son of one of real paramount Chiefs in Aweil) used to criticize Hon. Hussien Abdelbagi Akol 24/7 when Hussien was a VP in charge of service cluster, a son from the same Ajuong Malong Yor where Dr. Benjamin Bol also came from, a son of one of 8th Court Presidents in Aweil, a signatory in the Peace Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict and a cousin to him. I never saw this outcry that I don’t love the sons and daughters of Aweil who are appointed by the President into highest positions.
To be continued in the next article.
