The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed that 129 political appointees are part of its total workforce of 269 employees, as of the end of October. This disclosure follows a period of resistance by the Ministry to release the data, despite a Right to Information (RTI) request filed by Mihaaru News.
According to the information now provided by the Ministry, the 269 total employees consist of 140 foreign service staff and 129 political appointees. This marks a notable increase in the number of political appointees compared to the previous administration. At the close of the last administration, the Ministry had 253 employees, of which 116 were political appointees, and 137 were foreign service employees.
Initial Withholding of Information and Public Response
Initially, the Ministry had withheld the requested data, prompting Mihaaru News to escalate the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office. The office ruled that the Ministry could not refuse to disclose the information and ordered that it be provided within five days. Despite this, the Ministry did not comply with the deadline, further fueling public concern and media scrutiny.
Presidential Intervention Leads to Disclosure
After multiple failed attempts by Mihaaru News to obtain the information, the issue gained significant attention. The Ministry's continued refusal to disclose the figures ultimately prompted President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to intervene. Following media reports on the Ministry’s resistance to the RTI request, the President instructed the Ministry to release the requested data.
It was only after the President's intervention that the Ministry complied and disclosed the number of political appointees employed at the Foreign Ministry. The public release of the information marks the end of a prolonged struggle for transparency regarding the Ministry's staffing practices.
Implications of Political Appointees in Key Government Positions
The increase in political appointees within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs raises several important issues for the government and citizens alike. Political appointments in government institutions can be seen as a means of rewarding loyalists, but they also have implications for the efficiency and impartiality of government operations.
For the general public, the question remains: how much influence do political appointees have on the decision-making processes within ministries, and what impact does this have on the quality of services provided by these institutions?
As the story continues to unfold, more details may emerge regarding the roles of political appointees in the Foreign Ministry and how they interact with foreign service employees to shape the country’s foreign policy and international relations.
This situation underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in government institutions. The role of the Information Commissioner's Office in ensuring that public bodies comply with RTI requests highlights the need for checks and balances in the system. Moving forward, it will be crucial for government agencies to foster a culture of openness, ensuring that citizens' right to access public information is upheld.
