• TERMS OF USE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • ETHICS COMMITTEE
  • SUBMITTING AN ARTICLE
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Sudans Post
  • HOME
  • NEWS
    • SOUTH SUDAN
    • SUDAN
    • REGION
  • EDUCATION
  • CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
  • PRESS RELEASES
  • OPINIONS & ANALYSES
  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • عربي
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • NEWS
    • SOUTH SUDAN
    • SUDAN
    • REGION
  • EDUCATION
  • CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
  • PRESS RELEASES
  • OPINIONS & ANALYSES
  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • عربي
No Result
View All Result
Sudans Post
No Result
View All Result

Kiir given hero’s welcome upon return from Tanzania as head of EAC

South Sudan, the world's youngest country, assumed the position seven years after joining the bloc in September 2016.

by Sudans Post
November 26, 2023

President Salva Kiir gestures as he arrives to a hero’s welcome at Juba International Airport on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Photo by presidency]
President Salva Kiir gestures as he arrives to a hero’s welcome at Juba International Airport on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Photo by presidency]
JUBA – Hundreds of South Sudanese citizens, mostly supporters of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), on Saturday thronged Juba International Airport to welcome President Salva Kiir Mayardit back from Tanzania’s capital Arusha, where he attended the annual heads of state summit of the East African Community (EAC).

During his stay in Tanzania, Kiir was inaugurated on Friday as the chairperson of the EAC for the next one year, taking over from the Burundian president who had held the position for the past year.

South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, assumed the position seven years after joining the bloc in September 2016.

Upon his return home on Saturday evening, Kiir called for peace in South Sudan and vowed to make the country “proud before the people who have thought that we are unable to do anything regionally.”

His first deputy and main opposition leader Riek Machar said President Kiir’s selection as the head of the EAC is a testament to South Sudan’s ability.

“President Kiir taking over the EAC chairmanship is a sense of pride for the people of South Sudan. It’s a big recognition that we heads the EAC and this is for the first time,” Machar said. “We are all happy that we are part of EAC, and our President is the chair of this community,” he added.

Speaking to Sudans Post, several citizens expressed their satisfaction with the president’s achievement of the regional position, which they see as a recognition of South Sudan’s ability in the eyes of the region and the wider international community.

“We are very happy for our president because he has achieved this title,” Piol, a supporter wearing a red T-shirt and waving South Sudan’s flag said.

“It is not only for him, but it is for the country. The people of the world can now see that we have value in our region and it is because of the faith in South Sudan governance that we are today the leader of East African Community,” he added.

SPLM supporters welcoming President Salva Kiir at Juba International Airport as he returns from Arusha, Tanzania, on November 25, 2023. [Photo by presidency]
SPLM supporters welcoming President Salva Kiir at Juba International Airport as he returns from Arusha, Tanzania, on November 25, 2023. [Photo by presidency]
Mary Gatluak, another citizen, who declined to identify with any political party, called on South Sudan’s leaders “to prove to the world that we have what it takes to unite a country by leaving behind their past differences and coming together.”

The welcoming ceremony at Juba airport was attended by senior government officials, including vice-presidents, ministers, and state governors. The event was organized by the governor of Central Equatoria State, Emmanuel Adil Anthony.

Kiir’s assumption of the EAC chairmanship is a significant milestone for South Sudan, signaling the country’s growing influence and stature within the regional bloc. It is also an opportunity for Kiir to showcase his leadership and advance South Sudan’s interests on the regional stage.

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia.

Its primary objectives revolve around promoting economic cooperation, integration, political stability, and social prosperity among member states.

Established in 1999 with the signing of the East African Cooperation Treaty, the EAC has made significant strides, establishing a Customs Union in 2005, a Common Market in 2010, and is working toward a Monetary Union and a Political Federation.

The history of the East African Community spans several iterations. The initial establishment in 1967 comprised Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda but dissolved in 1977 due to political and economic differences.

In 1993, the East African Cooperation was formed with similar member states, making strides in economic cooperation.

The regional body was re-established in 1999 as East African Community, welcoming Rwanda in 2006, Burundi in 2011, South Sudan in 2016, the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2022, and now Somalia as its eighth member.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sudans Post footer logo

Sudans Post is an independent, young, and grass roots news media organization aimed at providing readers with an alternate depiction of events that occur on Sudan, South Sudan and East Africa, and to establish an engaging social platform for readers to discover and discuss the various issues that impact the two countries and the region.

SUDANS POST

  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • ETHICS COMMITTEE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBMITTING AN ARTICLE
  • TERMS OF USE

RECENT NEWS

  • Leer commissioner says SPLA-IO initiated attack on Maguek’s forces
  • Governors’ forum kicks off in Juba

SUBSCRIBE TO SUDANS POST

Get the news delivered right into your inbox and subscribe!

Loading
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • ETHICS COMMITTEE
  • SUBMITTING AN ARTICLE

Copyright © 2019–2023 Sudans Post - All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • NEWS
    • SOUTH SUDAN
    • SUDAN
    • REGION
  • EDUCATION
  • CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
  • PRESS RELEASES
  • OPINIONS & ANALYSES
  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • عربي

Copyright © 2019–2023 Sudans Post - All rights reserved.