JUBA — South Sudan’s Presidential Envoy to the Middle East and Gulf States, Ambassador Monica Achol Aguek, has threatened legal action against a social media user over what her office describes as false and defamatory allegations involving claims of witchcraft against the First Lady.
In a statement released by Ambassador Achol’s office over the weekend, the envoy dismissed as “false, misleading, and unsubstantiated” an article circulating on social media authored by Facebook user William Deng Dut Koor. The statement said the publication contains baseless claims that do not reflect the truth and accused the author of unethical and unprofessional conduct.
“These allegations are entirely without factual basis,” the statement read. “The publication is unprofessional, unethical, and appears to be driven by ulterior motives rather than any credible evidence or responsible journalism.”
The envoy’s office urged the public to disregard the claims and called on Deng to retract the publication and issue a formal apology. It warned that failure to do so could result in legal action, stating that the article may constitute defamation against a senior government official.
The controversy stems from a Facebook post by Deng alleging that Ambassador Achol engaged in witchcraft practices in Tanzania with the intent to harm First Lady Ayen Mayardit and disrupt her relationship with President Salva Kiir.
The post, which has since been deleted, further claims that money was paid to traditional spiritual practitioners to carry out the alleged act — accusations for which no evidence was provided.
Deng’s post also included personal attacks and unverified claims about the envoy’s influence in government and alleged recruitment of allies into public positions.
No independent verification of Deng’s claims is available, and authorities have not commented beyond the envoy’s statement. The First Lady’s office has also not issued any response regarding the allegations.
