South Sudan: Salva Kiir, the President who has chosen peace despite the turmoil

South Sudan was born in hope but quickly plunged into turmoil. Civil war, mass displacement, food insecurity the challenges weighing on the world’s youngest nation are colossal. Faced with this grim picture, President Salva Kiir Mayardit has never abandoned the fundamental goal of peace and national reconciliation, multiplying initiatives to keep alive the flame of cohesion in a deeply fragmented country.

One of the most significant acts of this journey remains the signing, on September 12, 2018, in Addis Ababa, of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict.

This agreement provided for the establishment of a transitional government of national unity, with the formation of a shared executive and the expansion of parliament, thereby opening a new era of political cohabitation between former belligerents a rare display of political courage in such a volatile context.

Concrete advances have also been recorded in the field of transitional justice. In October 2024, President Salva Kiir promulgated the bills establishing the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH) and the Compensation and Reparation Authority, firmly committing South Sudan to the path of transitional justice.

These two mechanisms, essential for healing the wounds of conflict, are designed to accompany the repatriation, resettlement, and reintegration of displaced populations.

The Head of State personally oversees the implementation of peace processes. He received a situation report on stabilization efforts in Upper Nile State, a region marked by recurrent tensions, and insisted on the need for close collaboration between local and national authorities to ensure a coherent and sustainable approach to peace.

This direct involvement reflects a proximity governance attentive to ground realities.

The President has also given directives for transformational work fostering peace and unity among the 64 tribes of country. By acting so, he recognizes that reconciliation passes as much through collective memory as through political agreements.

In a country where peace is built every day against all odds, Salva Kiir Mayardit remains, despite everything, a resolute craftsman of national reconciliation.

Yves BONANZO