Prior to his government role, he worked as a lawyer, and as a journalist[1] and columnist for The Citizen Daily newspaper.
Ateny was worked as the press secretary for South Sudanese president Salva Kiir Mayardit from November 2013,[2][3] until being fired in 2022.
[1] He was the third Press Secretary in the Office of the President and the longest serving one.
[2][4] Prior to his appointment, Ateny was known for his public criticism of President Kiir's administration.
[8] Ateny's relationship with Kiir was strained after the Uganda trip and he worked in isolation, and in tension with the other staff at Office of the President, without access to senior officials.