South Sudan’s Kiir pledges country’s first election
By AFP
South Sudan’s leader Salva Kiir on Tuesday pledged that delayed elections set for next year would go ahead as planned and that he would run for president. Kiir, a towering guerrilla commander, has been the nation’s only president since he led it to independence from Sudan in 2011.
The world’s youngest nation has lurched from crisis to crisis during the tenure and is held together by a fragile unity government between Kiir and vice president Riek Machar.
It was meant to conclude a transition period with elections in February 2023, but the government has so far failed to meet key provisions of the agreement, including drafting a constitution.
“I welcome the endorsement to run for presidency in 2024,” Kiir told supporters of his governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party, describing it as a “historic event”.
“We are committed to implement the chapters in the revitalised peace agreement as stated and the election will take place in 2024.” Read more
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