Kiir travels to UAE, Machar to briefly act as president

JUBA – President Salva Kiir Mayardit this evening left the country heading to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he is expected to meet leaders of the Gulf countries on various issues including but not limited to bilateral ties.

In a statement, the presidency said the trip will take a one working day.

“His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Sunday left Juba for Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for a working visit,” the presidency statement seen by Sudans Post reads in part about the head of state’s trip.

The president was seen off at the airport by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

Speaking to journalists upon the president’s departure, the Kiir’s press secretary Adhieu Martin Manyiel said the trip was planned for the South Sudan president to follow up with his counterpart in UAE on issues that were discussed during the previous meetings.

“This trip was planned to follow up on issues of mutual interest previously discussed between South Sudan and the United Arab Emirates,” she said.

“While in the UAE, it is expected that senior members of the delegation will hold bilateral meetings with Emirati officials on many areas of cooperation that will culminate to one-on-one meeting between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and His Highness Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates,” she added.

MACHAR TO ACT AS PRESIDENT

The one-day trip means that First Vice President Machar who is also the Chairman and Commander in Chief of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/SPLA-IO) will act as president.

The revitalized peace agreement provides in chapter one that “In the event of temporary absence of the President, the First Vice President shall act as the President and Commander in Chief of the national army and overall commander of all other organised forces.”