Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng addressing Young Entrepreneurs in Juba - CREDIT | Stephen Chot/Eye Radio | December 1, 2021

The government has denied reports that Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior was blocked from travelling to Kenya for an official trip.

Minister of Information and Telecommunication Ateny Wek Ateny says the reports are false and were fueled by rumours.

Speaking at a press conference in Juba yesterday, Ateny said there was no official communication indicating that the vice president had been stopped from travelling.

“Well, the Vice President was not blocked its follow down in the same situation why I am here with you today because of rumormongering. Vice President Nyandeng went and made a statement during the funeral of the late Kosti Manibi it was rumored later on that she wanted to travel, but she was blocked, but there’s no official communication that she was blocked,” Ateny said.

“She is a free citizen; she can travel anytime she wants. So, I want to tell the public the information is false as it came,” he said.

The office of Nyandeng, who is the Vice President for Gender and Youth Cluster, says she missed the planned trip because presidential travel clearance was not issued in time.

Her office says the request was submitted to the President’s Office on August 13 for an official visit that included a public lecture in Kenya.

It also dismissed reports that Nyandeng was stopped at Juba International Airport.

Nyandeng recently criticised the political direction of the country and what she described as poor treatment of liberation veterans during the funeral of former Minister of Finance Kosti Manibe.

The President’s Office later defended President Salva Kiir’s role in the liberation struggle.