Kiir in Addis Ababa as Abiy gets new 5-year term

JUBA — South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has arrived in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to witness the swearing in ceremony of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for a new tenure as prime minister.

“The President of the Republic of South Sudan, His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this morning (4th October 2021), to participate in the inaugural ceremony of the new Ethiopian Government under the leadership of H.E. Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed, scheduled to take place today,” the presidency said in the statement.

According to the statement, those accompanying the president include presidential affairs minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin, foreign minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin, and Jonglei state governor Denay Jock Chagor.

The swearing-in ceremony was held as part of the first day of the Ethiopian House of Peoples’ Representatives (HoPR)’s new five-year term. Abiy’s ruling party Prosperity Party’s won a landslide victory in national elections held in June.

He then was appointed by the HoPR and the lower house of the Ethiopian parliament as prime minister.