The Managing Director of NilePet, Emmanuel Athiei Ayual, has made a public declaration of support for President Salva Kiir and the SPLM party ahead of the upcoming elections in South Sudan. In a statement made while inspecting fuel depots and stations in Juba, Ayual said that NilePet, as the commercial arm of the government in the petroleum sector, is procuring and stocking enough fuel to support the president and his SPLM party for elections. This move has raised questions about the use of state institutions and public resources for partisan electoral purposes.
Ayual's remarks were made on Wednesday, just a day after President Kiir dissolved the transitional government and issued directives requiring officials serving during the caretaker period to remain politically impartial. The presidential decree explicitly prohibits officials from using public office, public resources, or government institutions to promote or disadvantage any political party, candidate, or electoral contestant. Despite this, Ayual went further, calling on NilePet employees to rally behind President Kiir and campaign for his re-election.
NilePet was established as the national petroleum company to participate in petroleum activities on behalf of the Government of South Sudan. According to Section 13 of the Petroleum Act 2012, the National Petroleum and Gas Corporation was established to participate in upstream, midstream, and downstream petroleum activities on behalf of the Government. The Act further requires the corporation to undertake petroleum activities in accordance with the law and states that it shall act as a commercial entity and safeguard the national interest in petroleum activities.
The Petroleum Act 2012 distinguishes the corporation's role as a national commercial entity acting on behalf of the Government from the interests of a particular political party. However, Ayual's statement has raised questions about whether using NilePet's institutional resources to support the SPLM and President Kiir is consistent with that statutory mandate and the caretaker government's requirement for political impartiality. Ayual did not explain what legal authority permits NilePet's resources or institutional machinery to be used for partisan electoral support.
Ayual described support for President Kiir as an individual responsibility that staff should extend to their families and relatives across the states. However, this has not alleviated concerns about the role of NilePet employees in the electoral process and the use of company resources for partisan purposes. The Managing Director's public call for the corporation and its employees to support a political party and presidential candidate has raised questions about the separation between state resources, a state-owned commercial institution, and partisan electoral activity.
The declaration also raises questions about the planned procurement and stockpiling of fuel for the elections. Ayual did not clarify whether this is a general national fuel-supply responsibility applicable regardless of political affiliation or whether it is intended to benefit the SPLM's electoral campaign. NilePet has not explained how its declared support for the SPLM and President Kiir complies with the caretaker administration's neutrality directive.
The issue has significant implications for the upcoming elections in South Sudan, particularly with regards to the use of state resources and institutions for partisan purposes. The opposition has previously raised concerns about the use of state institutions for partisan purposes, and Ayual's statement is likely to exacerbate these concerns.
Key points
- The Managing Director of NilePet has called on employees to support President Salva Kiir and the SPLM party ahead of the elections.
- Ayual's remarks contradict the presidential decree requiring officials to remain politically impartial during the caretaker period.
- The use of NilePet's resources for partisan electoral support has raised questions about the separation between state resources and partisan electoral activity.
