Salva Kiir Mayardit

Salva Kiir Mayardit is the first President of South Sudan, a position he has held since the country gained independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011, with the support of the United Nations, African Union, and European Union. He previously served as the President of the Government of Southern Sudan and as the First Vice President of Sudan under Omar al-Bashir, working closely with John Garang, the founder of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). Kiir's leadership has been shaped by his experiences during the Second Sudanese Civil War, which involved the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), the National Congress Party (NCP), and other groups like the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). His presidency has been influenced by relationships with neighboring countries, including Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia, as well as international organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

● Early Life and Education

Salva Kiir Mayardit was born in the village of Akon, located in the Bahr el Ghazal region of what is now South Sudan, near the city of Wau. His early life was marked by the influence of the Dinka people's culture and traditions, as well as the impact of the First Sudanese Civil War, which involved the Anyanya rebel group. Kiir received his primary education in the town of Mundri, before moving to Rumbek for his secondary education, where he was exposed to the ideas of Sudanese nationalism and the struggle for self-determination in Southern Sudan. He later attended a Sudanese military academy in Khartoum, where he was trained by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and developed relationships with other future leaders, including Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Omar al-Bashir.

● Military Career

Kiir's military career began when he joined the Anyanya I rebel group, which was fighting against the Sudanese government during the First Sudanese Civil War, alongside leaders like Joseph Lagu and Gordon Muortat Mayen. He later became a key figure in the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), which was founded by John Garang and played a central role in the Second Sudanese Civil War, involving battles like the Battle of Malakal and the Battle of Juba. Kiir rose through the ranks of the SPLA, becoming one of its most senior commanders, and developed relationships with other rebel leaders, including Riek Machar and Lam Akol. He was involved in the Naivasha Agreement and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which were negotiated with the National Congress Party (NCP) and facilitated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union.

● Presidency

As the first President of South Sudan, Kiir has faced numerous challenges, including the Sudanese conflict in South Kordofan and the South Sudanese Civil War, which involved the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) and the National Salvation Front (NAS). He has worked to establish relationships with neighboring countries, including Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia, as well as international organizations like the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the African Union Mission in South Sudan (AMIS). Kiir's presidency has also been marked by efforts to develop the country's oil industry, with the support of companies like CNPC and Petronas, and to promote economic development, with the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

● Political Views and Policies

Kiir's political views have been shaped by his experiences as a rebel leader and his commitment to the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), which has been influenced by the ideas of John Garang and Frantz Fanon. He has emphasized the importance of self-determination and independence for South Sudan, as well as the need for reconciliation and national unity, as outlined in the Arusha Agreement and the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). Kiir has also sought to promote economic development and poverty reduction, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Food Programme (WFP), and to address the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation, in collaboration with organizations like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

● Personal Life

Kiir is a member of the Dinka people and is a Christian, having been raised in the Catholic Church and later becoming a Presbyterian. He is married to Mary Ayen Mayardit and has several children, including Manut Mayardit and Adut Mayardit. Kiir's personal life has been marked by the challenges of leading a country affected by conflict and poverty, as well as the demands of international diplomacy, including relationships with leaders like Omar al-Bashir, Yoweri Museveni, and Hailemariam Desalegn. Despite these challenges, Kiir remains committed to the development of South Sudan and the well-being of its people, as outlined in the South Sudan Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).