Kiir says international partners ‘ignored’ his leadership during conflict

JUBA – South Sudan President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, has said that the international community has – during the seven years of war – ignored his leadership and has attempted to work directly with the people of South Sudan overriding his role as the head of the state of the world’s youngest country.

Kiir made the remarks in a New Year’s message issued by the presidency on Thursday.

Acknowledging regional and international support, the South Sudanese head of state said the people of South Sudan “did not travel the rough road of the year 2020 alone. We received support from our regional and international partners, and I would like on your behalf, to sincerely thank them for standing with us at our difficult moment.”

“The Transitional Government of National Unity recognizes the value of partnership with international organizations and donors, and this is why we have unconditionally offered our cooperation for all these years. On the basis of this believe, I am appealing to all our partners to open a new page of mutual recognition in the year 2021.

“For the last seven years of conflict, we have heard statements from our international partners that have willfully ignored South Sudanese leaders, while pledging to work with our people. We, as the leadership have only been asked us to fulfill our obligations in approving humanitarian access, but these obligations demanded from us seem to have no corresponding rights.

“The South Sudanese, leadership in this conception has obligations to approve things, but has no rights to be treated as a genuine partner. Today, I would like to underscore that there are some aspects of our responsibility that require genuine cooperation, especially now the Transitional Government of National Unity is in place.

“To our partners, there is more to be achieved in our collaborative work by mutual recognition than in a language that undermines.”