Kiir’s same old method: catch a scapegoat, let him go, and in the future, re-appoint.

President Salva Kiir does not get tired of saying the same thing over and over again at the ceremony of the swearing-in of the cabinet. If one examines all the swearing-in of all the appointees of Kiir, one will notice the same old trend. Like any analyst would put it, Kiir will explain to the public that he has caught a scapegoat, someone that has been siphoning and causing havoc in his administration. But in the end, he let the scapegoat go, and over time, most of these scapegoats will eventually turn into sheep again, and the president will re-appoint them to another position.

The most recent of such events is the swearing-in of the newly appointed Minister of Finance and planning and Minister of Interior.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday night issued Republican Decrees dismissing the country’s minister of finance and planning, Athian Diing Athian, and minister of interior Paul Mayom Akech.

Agak Achuil was appointed as the new minister of finance and planning, while Mahmud Solomon was appointed as the new minister of interior.

The republican orders don’t state the reason for their dismissals, so as not to implicate them or stop them from taking such appointments in the future. This also has been the culture of the president.

But during the swearing-in ceremony, the president in his speech disclosed the reasons for their dismissal. The president mentioned that the previous minister of Finance and Economic Planning used not tell me the amount of money in the government’s coffers.

According to the president, they open private accounts outside and siphon off millions of money, furthermore he said they build houses outside the country.

The president also questioned the inaccuracy in the reports that they usually give him and conclusively advised the new Minister of finance and planning to ensure that the civil servants, organized forces, and the army are always paid on time.

He also warned the new Ministers against allowing themselves to be bribed or bribe others. “If you notice that there is a corrupt person in the Ministry whom you cannot dismiss, report him or her to me. I will dismiss him or her. Do not listen to those who will say we brought you. Do not be deceived. I know where you all come from. Nobody talked to me. It is me who brought you,” he concluded.

Now here is the point, it looks like Kiir does not get tired of saying the same thing over and over again on the ceremony of the swearing of the cabinet. If you fired a minister based on the mismanagement of the country’s resources, why can’t you let them face the law? The president’s claims need to be probed and established with facts and evidence.

Then the government should allow the law to work and take its full course. The same Kiir will later reappoint the recently sacked ministers, and he will give a speech that will contradict his swearing-in speech.

There can be a change of attitude and growth if the government doesn’t strengthen the judiciary system and allow decisions to be made based on established and proven facts, not just on the president’s perception.