Salva Kiir Mayardit

{{short description|President of South Sudan since 2011}}
{{redirect|Kiir|the river|Bahr al-Arab}}
{{Dinka name|Kiir}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Salva Kiir Mayardit
| image               = File:President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Kiir in 2014
| office              = 1st [[President of South Sudan]]
| vicepresident       = [[Riek Machar]]<br>[[James Wani Igga]]<br>[[Taban Deng Gai]]<br>Riek Machar<br>
| term_start          = 9 July 2011
| term_end            = 
| predecessor         = Position established
| successor           = 
| office1             = President of [[Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (2005–2011)|Southern Sudan]]
| vicepresident1      = [[Riek Machar Teny]]
| term_start1         = 30 July 2005
| term_end1           = 9 July 2011<br />Acting: 30 July 2005 – 11 August 2005
| predecessor1        = [[John Garang]]
| successor1          = Position abolished
| office2             = [[Vice President of Sudan|First Vice President of Sudan]]
| president2          = [[Omar al-Bashir]]
| term_start2         = 11 August 2005
| term_end2           = 9 July 2011
| predecessor2        = [[John Garang]]
| successor2          = [[Ali Osman Taha]]
| office3             = Vice President of [[Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (2005–2011)|Southern Sudan]]
| president3          = [[John Garang]]
| term_start3         = 9 July 2005
| term_end3           = 11 August 2005
| predecessor3        = Position established
| successor3          = [[Riek Machar Teny]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1951|09|13|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Gogrial|Akon]], [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan]]
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| spouse              = Mary Ayen Mayardit<br>Aluel William Nyuon Bany<ref>[http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article50469 ''Sudan Tribune'', Kenyan police arrest S. Sudan president’s son over drunkenness]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sde.co.ke/amp/thenairobian/article/2000114864/our-family-life-is-private-kiir-s-in-law-says |title="Our family life is private" Kiir's in-law says - Entertainment News |access-date=31 December 2018 |archive-date=30 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630075237/http://www.sde.co.ke/amp/thenairobian/article/2000114864/our-family-life-is-private-kiir-s-in-law-says |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| party               = [[Sudan People's Liberation Movement]]
| allegiance          = [[South Sudan]]
| commands            = Commander-in-Chief of the [[South Sudan People's Defence Forces]]<br>[[Sudan People's Liberation Movement|South Sudan People's Defence Force]]<br>[[Anyanya|Anyanya Battalion]]
| battles             = [[First Sudanese Civil War]]<br>[[Second Sudanese Civil War]]<br>{{*}}[[Operation Thunderbolt (1997)|Operation Thunderbolt]]<br>[[South Sudanese Civil War]]
}}
'''Salva Kiir Mayardit''' (born 13 September 1951),<ref>{{cite web |title=Biography of H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit |url=https://www.presidency.gov.ss/president.php |website=www.presidency.gov.ss |access-date=4 January 2021 |archive-date=11 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811214544/https://presidency.gov.ss/president.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> also known as '''Salva Kiir''', is a South Sudanese politician who has been the [[List of Presidents of South Sudan|President of South Sudan]] since its independence on 9 July 2011. Prior to independence, he was the President of the Government of [[Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (2005–2011)|Southern Sudan]], as well as [[Vice President of Sudan|First Vice President of Sudan]], from 2005 to 2011. He was named Commander-in-Chief of the [[Sudan People's Liberation Army]] (SPLA) in 2005, following the death of [[John Garang]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 August 2005 |title=Sudan: UN mourns death of Vice-President Garang |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2005/08/147182-sudan-un-mourns-death-vice-president-garang |access-date=16 September 2022 |website=UN News |language=en}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Kiir was born in 1951 into a pastoral [[Dinka]] family in the village of Akon in the Awan-Chan Dinka community in [[Gogrial]] County, South [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan|Sudan]], as the eighth of nine children (six boys and three girls) in the family.<ref name="PW"/> His father, Kuethpiny Thiik Atem (d. 2007), was a cattle herder who belonged to Payum clan.<ref name="PW"/> Atem had three wives, Awiei Rou Wol, Adut Makuei Piol and Awien Akoon Deng, along with 16 children.<ref name="PW"/> Kiir's mother, Awiei Rou Wol Tong was a farmer, who belonged to the Payii clan.<ref name="PW">{{cite web|url=https://paanluelwel.com/2016/02/14/salva-kiir-mayaardit-the-joshua-of-south-sudan/|title=Salva Kiir Mayardit: The Joshua of South Sudan|author=Wël, PaanLuel|date=24 February 2016}}</ref>

== Sudanese civil wars ==
[[File:Salva Kiir-3, by Stein Ove Korneliussen.jpg|thumb|left|Salva Kiir Mayardit in [[military uniform]]]]

In the late 1960s, Kiir joined the [[Anyanya]] battalion in the [[First Sudanese Civil War]]. By the time of the 1972 [[Addis Ababa Agreement (1972)|Addis Ababa Agreement]], he was a low-ranking officer.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4738295.stm|title=Profile: Salva Kiir|work=[[BBC News]]|date=2 August 2005|access-date=26 January 2010}}</ref> In 1983, when [[John Garang]] joined an army [[mutiny]] he had been sent to put down, Kiir and other Southern leaders joined the rebel [[Sudan People's Liberation Movement]] (SPLM) in the [[Second Sudanese Civil War|second civil war]]. Garang De Mabior had advanced military knowledge and experience from both the United States and Sudan, and Kiir served as his deputy.<ref>{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Douglas H.|author-link=Douglas H. Johnson|year=2003|title=The Root Causes of Sudan's Civil Wars|publisher=[[Indiana University Press]]|isbn=0-253-21584-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U-PuCbRr4tcC&q=The+Root+Causes+of+Sudan%27s+Civil+Wars|page=66}}</ref> In 1997, Kiir commanded the SPLA troops that took part in [[Operation Thunderbolt (1997)|Operation Thunderbolt]], a very successful rebel offensive during which most of [[Western Equatoria]] was captured by the SPLA.{{sfnp|LeRiche|Arnold|2013|p=104}} Kiir eventually rose to head the SPLA, the SPLM's military wing when Dr. John Garang was killed in a helicopter crash. Rumours to remove Kiir from his post as SPLA Chief of Staff in 2004 nearly caused the organization to split.<ref name=BBC/>

==South Sudanese politics==
Following the signing of the [[Comprehensive Peace Agreement]] formally ending the war in January 2005, Garang was sworn in as the Vice President of the Republic of Sudan. After the death of Garang in a helicopter crash on 30 July 2005, Kiir was chosen to succeed to the post of First [[Vice President of Sudan]] and President of Southern Sudan. Before independence, Kiir was popular among the military wing of the SPLA/M for his loyalty to the vision of the SPLA/M throughout the liberation struggle and among those who do not trust the successive governments that have come and gone in the Sudan.<ref name=BBC/>

Comments by Kiir in October 2009 that the forthcoming independence referendum was a choice between being "a second class in your own country" or "a free person in your independent state" were expected to further strain political tensions.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE59U1FT20091031|title=S. Sudan president makes first call for independence|work=[[Reuters]]|date=31 October 2009|access-date=26 January 2010}}</ref> Reports in January 2010 that Kiir would not contest April elections for Sudanese president, but would focus on re-election as president of Southern Sudan were interpreted to mean that the SPLM priority was independence.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8468760.stm|title=Sudan would accept separation, says President Bashir|work=BBC News|date=19 January 2010|access-date=26 January 2010}}</ref>

Kiir was re-elected with 93% of the vote in the [[2010 South Sudanese general election|2010 South Sudanese election]]. Although the vote on both the national and sub-national level was criticized by democratic activists and international observers, the overwhelming margin of Kiir's re-election was noted by some media as being "Step One" in the process of secession.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/world/africa/27sudan.html?hp|work=The New York Times|title=Bashir Wins Election as Sudan Edges Toward Split|first=Jeffrey|last=Gettleman|date=26 April 2010}}</ref> Following his re-election, [[Omar al-Bashir]] reappointed Kiir as the First Vice President of Sudan in accordance with the interim constitution.<ref name="sudantribune">{{cite news |url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article35230|title=Salva Kiir and Ali Osman appointed deputies of Sudan's President|publisher=Sudan Tribune|date=29 May 2010}}</ref>

==Presidency==
{{further|Human rights in South Sudan}}
[[File:Welcome to the neighbourhood - Flickr - Al Jazeera English.jpg|thumb|left|[[Omar al-Bashir]] ''(right)'', [[President of Sudan]], watches a ceremony celebrating the founding of South Sudan with Kiir in 2011.]]
[[File:President Salva Kiir Mayardit voting in southern Sudan referendum.jpg|thumb|Kiir voting in the [[2011 South Sudanese independence referendum]]]]
South Sudanese voted overwhelmingly in favour of their independence from Sudan in January 2011, with 98.83% of voters reportedly preferring to split from the North.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/01/30/pct-southern-sudan-vote-secession/|agency=FOX News|date=30 January 2011|access-date=25 August 2011|title=Over 99 Percent in Southern Sudan Vote for Secession}}</ref> On 9 July 2011, South Sudan became an independent state, with Kiir as its first president. Kiir positioned himself as a reformer, using his inaugural address to call for the South Sudanese people "to forgive though we shall not forget" injustices imposed  at the hands of the northern Sudanese over the preceding decades<ref>{{cite news|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201107090061.html|date=9 July 2011|access-date=25 August 2011|title=South Sudan: Salva Kiir Calls for Forgiveness As South now South Sudan Gains Independence}}</ref> and announce a general amnesty for South Sudanese groups that had warred against the SPLM in the past.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/Salva-Kiir-takes-oath-grants,39479|agency=Sudan Tribune|date=9 July 2011|access-date=25 August 2011|title=Salva Kiir takes oath, grants amnesty to rebels}}</ref> A few weeks later, he publicly addressed members of the military and police to warn them that rape, torture, and other [[human rights violation]]s carried out by armed personnel would be considered criminal acts and prosecuted aggressively by the Ministry of Justice.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oyetimes.com/news/africa/12875-salva-kiir-warns-armed-south-sudan-forces-over-human-rights-abuse|title=Salva Kiir Warns Armed South Sudan Forces Over Human Rights Abuse|first=Waakhe Simon|last=Wadu|date=1 August 2011|access-date=18 August 2011|agency=Oye! Times}}</ref> His presidency was characterized as a period of reconstruction, albeit one marred by internal and foreign disputes. Among these were the [[Heglig Crisis]], which caused a border war with Sudan, and an internal political crisis in which attempts were made to overthrow him.

===Domestic policy===
On 18 June 2013, Kiir issued an order lifting the immunity of two ministers in the national government pending investigations into an alleged corruption case in which they appeared to be implicated. He also issued an order suspending Cabinet Affairs Minister [[Deng Alor Kuol]] and Finance Minister [[Kosti Manibe Ngai]] from their duties during the entire duration of the probe. In July 2013, Kiir sacked his entire cabinet, including his vice president, [[Riek Machar]], ostensibly to reduce the size of government. However, Machar said that it was a step towards [[dictatorship]] and that he would challenge Kiir for the presidency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/video/africa/2013/07/20137287019670555.html|title=South Sudan gripped by power struggles - Africa|publisher=Al Jazeera English|access-date=21 January 2014}}</ref> He also dismissed [[Taban Deng Gai]] as Governor of Unity State.
 
Kiir told Radio Netherlands Worldwide that [[homosexuality]] is not in the "character" of Southern Sudanese people. "It is not even something that anybody can talk about here in southern Sudan in particular. It is not there and if anybody wants to import or to export it to South Sudan, it will not get the support and it will always be condemned by everybody," he said. He then went on to refer to homosexuality as a "mental disease" and a "bastion of Western immorality".<ref name="RNW">{{cite news|url=http://www.africanactivist.org/2010/08/south-sudan-president-condemns.html|title=South Sudan President Condemns Homosexuality|publisher=African Activist News|access-date=2 June 2011|archive-date=3 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903101638/http://www.africanactivist.org/2010/08/south-sudan-president-condemns.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
# In December 2011, 6,000 [[Nuer people|Lou Nuer]] armed [[child soldier]]s attacked [[Murle people|Murle]] communities. According to investigations carried out by the UN, 800 people from both ethnic groups were killed between December 2011 and February 2012, while women and children were abducted and property was looted and destroyed.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2013/country-chapters/south-sudan|title=World Report 2013: South Sudan|date=10 January 2013|publisher=Human Rights Watch|access-date=16 July 2016}}</ref> Unbeknownst to large numbers of or the entire child soldier population, Kiir planned and had decided to agree to warlike stipends from the Obama administration beginning in 2012, regardless of an American law prohibiting aid to nations utilizing child soldiers created and passed in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theintercept.com/2016/06/09/hillary-clintons-state-department-gave-south-sudans-military-a-pass-for-its-child-soldiers/|title=Hillary Clinton's State Department Gave South Sudan's Military a Pass for Its Child Soldiers|last=Turse|first=Nick|author-link=Nick Turse|date=9 June 2016|website=The Intercept|series=New Nation, Long War|publisher=First Look Media|access-date=15 July 2016}}</ref>
# A lack of accountability and justice pertaining to the [[Criminal investigation|investigation]], arrest and prosecution of the individuals who carried out the violence against civilians of both the Nuer and Murle ethnic groups is widely believed to have contributed massively to, if not categorically, the  [[mass murder]]s, as well as the continued perpetration of the ethnic violence.<ref name=":0" /> Kiir established a [[figurehead]] "Investigation Committee" with an ostentatious [[Mandate (politics)|mandate]] to investigate those responsible for the mass murders and murders, but as of January 2013 no finances had been allocated to the "Investigation Committee" or any of its members sworn in to commence the investigation and bring those to justice.<ref name=":0" />
# Throughout the [[Jonglei]] [[disarmament]] "Operation Restore Peace" which began in March 2012 and continued throughout the year, soldiers were ordered to and assumed the responsibility of [[extrajudicial killing]]s, severe [[battery (crime)|beatings]], binding people with rope, and torture to [[Forced confession|extract "information"]] regarding the whereabouts of weapons.

==== Consolidation of power ====

After rumours about a planned coup surfaced in Juba in late 2012, Kiir began reorganizing the senior leadership of his government, party and military on an unprecedented scale. In January 2013, he replaced the inspector general of the national police service with a lieutenant from the army, and dismissed six deputy chiefs of staff and 29 major generals in the army. In February 2013 Kiir retired an additional 117 army generals but this was viewed
as troublesome in regards to a power grab by others. Kiir had also suggested that his rivals were trying to revive the rifts that had provoked infighting in the 1990s.<ref name=guardian20130724/>

On 7 May 2013 Kiir dismissed legal advisor Justice [[Ajonye Perpetua]] and deputy Foreign Minister [[Elias Nyamlell Wako]].
Kiir had announced that he would no longer tolerate criticism by members of his cabinet.<ref name=crisiswatch201305>{{citation |url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/crisiswatch/database?page=1&location%5B0%5D=13&da= |publisher=International Crisis Group |date=May 2013 |accessdate=2023-09-25 |title=South Sudan}}</ref>
In July, Kiir sacked his entire cabinet, leading experts to warn of upcoming "a full-blown catastrophe".<ref name=guardian20130724>{{Cite web |date=2013-07-24 |title=South Sudan president sacks cabinet in power struggle |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/24/south-sudan-salva-kiir-sacks-cabinet |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> In December 2013, Kiir accused his vice President and other Party members of plotting Coup' leading him to arrest those politicians<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final report of the African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan - South Sudan {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/final-report-african-union-commission-inquiry-south-sudan |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=reliefweb.int |language=en}}</ref>

==== Murder and torture of journalists ====
Moi Peter Julius, who was a political reporter for a South Sudanese newspaper ''The Corporate'', was found murdered late on the night of 19 August 2015 in a residential area of [[Juba]] after being shot twice from behind. His murder was committed three days after Kiir publicly and officially threatened journalists, stating that "freedom of the press does not mean that you work against your country. If anybody does not know that this country will kill people, we will demonstrate on them."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://globaljournalist.org/2015/08/south-sudan-reporter-killed-in-apparent-targeted-attack/|title=South Sudan reporter killed in apparent targeted attack - Global Journalist|last=Raskauskite|first=Zivile|date=26 August 2015|website=Global Journalist|language=en-US|access-date=23 July 2016}}</ref> Earlier in 2015, five journalists by the names of Musa Mohamed (the director of the state-run radio station Raja FM), Adam Juma (reporter and presenter for Raja FM), Dalia Marko and Randa George (reporters for Raja FM), and Boutros Martin (a cameraman for the Western Bahr el Ghazal of South Sudan Television) had been murdered while traveling as part of a convoy, along with six other people. Tom Rhodes of the [[Committee to Protect Journalists]] stated after the murders that "The murder of five journalists is a devastating attack on South Sudan's already beleaguered press corps," and that "We urge Western Bahr el Ghazal authorities to do their utmost to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice, and to ensure journalists are allowed to carry out their duties safely."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cpj.org/2015/01/five-journalists-killed-when-gunmen-ambush-convoy-.php|title=Five journalists killed when gunmen ambush convoy in South Sudan - Committee to Protect Journalists|date=27 January 2015|website=cpj.org|publisher=Committee to Protect Journalists|access-date=23 July 2016}}</ref> At present, none of the parties responsible for ordering the murders or perpetrators of the crimes have been arrested, charged, or convicted.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

===Foreign policy===
[[File:President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan.jpg|thumb|Kiir with US President [[Barack Obama]] in Washington, D.C., 5 August 2014]]
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the President of South Sudan, Mr. Salva Kiir Mayardit, in New Delhi on October 30, 2015 (1).jpg|thumb|Kiir with Indian [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Narendra Modi]], 30 October 2016]] 
[[File:Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi (2019-10-24).jpg|thumb|Kiir at the [[Russia–Africa Summit 2019]] in Sochi on 24 October 2019]]
In mid-October 2011, Kiir announced South Sudan had applied for accession to the [[East African Community]]. He declared the EAC to be "at the centre of our hearts" due to its members' support of the South during the Sudanese civil wars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.busiweek.com/11/the-eac-issues/eac-news/1891-south-sudan-readies-for-eac-membership|title=South Sudan readies for EAC membership which was later rejected|publisher=Busiweek.com|date=17 October 2011|access-date=6 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021011844/http://www.busiweek.com/11/the-eac-issues/eac-news/1891-south-sudan-readies-for-eac-membership|archive-date=21 October 2011}}</ref>

On 20 December 2011, Kiir [[Israel-South Sudan relations|visited]] Israel to thank it for its support during the [[First Sudanese Civil War]] from 1956 to 1972,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/12/20/183573.html|title=Al Arabiya, 12/20/2011|publisher=Alarabiya.net|date=20 December 2011|access-date=21 January 2014}}</ref> and met with Israeli president [[Shimon Peres]] to discuss establishing an embassy in [[Jerusalem]], which would make South Sudan the first country to have one in that city.<ref>{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Pipes|author-link=Daniel Pipes|url=http://www.danielpipes.org/10486/south-sudan-israel-allies|title=South Sudan, Israel's New Ally|website=danielpipes.org|access-date=21 January 2014}}</ref>

After the outbreak of the South Sudanese civil war, Salva Kiir delivered a speech in January 2014 lashing out at the United Nations and “so-called humanitarian organizations,” accusing them of supporting Riek Machar to try to overthrow him. He accused the UN of sheltering his enemies on their bases adding, “There is a problem with the international community, and it is something that people will have to thrash out with them.”<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCJ9YWChiB0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/xCJ9YWChiB0 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=15 October 2015|title=South Sudan President Salva Kiir told UN of acting like a parallel government JAN 20,2014 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In March 2014, Kiir's government organized a rally accusing the United Nations of colluding with anti-government forces. Protesters carried signs accusing the UN of arming anti-government forces.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/south-sudan-peace-protesters-against-un/1868885.html|title=South Sudan Peace Protesters Rail Against UN|last=Rwakaringi|first=Mugume Davis|date=14 March 2014|work=Voice of America|access-date=15 October 2015}}</ref>

Relations between Kiir's government and some erstwhile supporters deteriorated since the start of the civil war. He disclosed in an op-ed published in his name in the Washington Times in October 2015 that unnamed "international partners in peace" had threatened his government with sanctions, the withdrawal of aid support, and referrals to the International Criminal Court.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/oct/11/salva-kiir-mayardit-south-sudan-worlds-youngest-na/|title=South Sudan: the world's youngest nation strives to build democracy|last=Kiir Mayardit|first=Salva|date=11 October 2015|work=Washington Times|access-date=16 October 2015}}</ref>

====Heglig crisis and war with Sudan====
{{Main|Heglig Crisis}}
On 26 March 2012, the South Sudanese army attacked the oilfield in the town of [[Heglig]]  (known also to the Dinka of the Unity state as [[Panthou]]), located between the border of the Sudanese state of [[South Kordofan]] and the South Sudanese state of [[Unity State|Unity]], triggering the [[Heglig Crisis]]. On 27 September, Kiir met Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and signed eight agreements in [[Addis Ababa]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theglobalobservatory.org/2012/10/negotiating-peace-in-the-sudans-the-addis-ababa-cooperation-agreement/|title=Negotiating Peace in the Sudans: The Addis Ababa Agreement|last=Affa'a-Mindzie|first=Mireille|date=9 October 2012|website=IPI Global Observatory|language=en-US|access-date=31 January 2019}}</ref> Ethiopia, which led the way to resume important oil exports and create a {{convert|6|mi|km|0|order=flip|adj=on}} demilitarised zone along their border. The agreements allow for the return of {{convert|350,000|oilbbl|L|order=flip|abbr=off}} of South Sudanese oil to the world market. In addition, the agreements include an understanding of the parameters to follow in regards to demarcating their border, an economic cooperation agreement and a deal to protect each other's citizens. Certain issues remain unsolved and future talks are scheduled to resolve them.

On 25 November 2012, South Sudan launched a formal complaint to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) against Sudan in the wake of aerial bombings carried out by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in parts of South Sudan's northern Bahr el Ghazal state, killing at least eight people and injuring an equal number. South Sudan treated the attack as a gross violation of the cooperation agreement the two country's leaders signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 27 September.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201211250310.html|title=South Sudan: Juba to File Complaint to UN Security Council Over Khartoum Aggression|publisher=allAfrica.com|date=25 November 2012|access-date=21 January 2014}}</ref>

===Political crisis===
{{See also|Ethnic violence in South Sudan}}
In September 2013, an article appeared on the South Sudan News Agency website.<ref>[https://ssnanews.com/index.php/2013/09/05/the-splm-and-the-rise-of-autocracy-in-south-sudan/ The SPLM and the Rise of Autocracy in South Sudan]</ref> The article was authored by a South Sudanese analyst by the name Duop Chak Wuol. In his writings, Duop criticized the ruling SPLM party and warned of widespread consequences if party doesn't fix its growing autocratic policies. Duop also predicted negative results the young nation would face if a civil war break out. Tensions rose between Kiir and his former vice president [[Riek Machar]] in December 2013 in the lead-up to a meeting of the National Liberation Council (NLC) of the ruling SPLM party. After two days of NLC meetings, on the night of 15 December 2013 shooting erupted within Salva Kiir's Presidential Guards. The next day, Kiir denounced Machar and other senior SPLM officials for staging a failed coup against his government, a claim later denied by Machar and others. These events marked the start of the [[South Sudanese Civil War]].<ref name="southsudannation.com">{{Citation|title=It wasn't a coup: Salva Kiir shot himself in the foot|url=http://www.southsudannation.com/it-wasnt-a-coup-salva-kiir-shot-himself-in-the-foot/|newspaper=South Sudan nation|access-date=12 November 2015|date=20 December 2013|archive-date=12 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012033547/http://www.southsudannation.com/it-wasnt-a-coup-salva-kiir-shot-himself-in-the-foot/|url-status=dead}}</ref> About 400,000 people were estimated to have been killed in the war by April 2018, including notable atrocities such as the [[2014 Bentiu massacre]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southsudan-unrest-toll/study-estimates-190000-people-killed-in-south-sudans-civil-war-idUSKCN1M626R| work=Reuters| title=Study estimates 190,000 people killed in South Sudan's civil war| date=26 September 2018|access-date=26 September 2018}}</ref>

===Assassination plot===
According to a Saudi Arabian diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks in June 2015, the Saudi Arabian embassy in Khartoum had previously alerted the Saudi Arabian government of an assassination plot against Kiir by members of the [[General Intelligence Directorate (Egypt)|Egyptian]] and [[Sudanese intelligence]] agencies.<ref>{{cite web|title=Egyptian intelligence coordinated with Khartoum to assassinate South Sudan's Kiir: cable|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article55401|access-date=20 June 2015|work=Sudan Tribune}}</ref>

=== Business interests ===
Kiir is reported to be the part-owner of ABMC Thai-South Sudan Construction Company Limited. 
With Garang Deng Aguer and Benjamin Bol Mel 
According to a report by Radio Tamazuj, however, Kiir's shares are not held directly but may be concealed in the name of a close associate. Ties between Kiir and the company were denied by Kiir's spokesman Ateny Wek. The company was awarded at least $161 million in government roads contracts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/special-investigation-president-kiir-linked-multi-million-dollar-roads-contracts|title=Special investigation: President Kiir linked to multi-million dollar roads contracts|work=Radio Tamazuj|date=16 June 2015|access-date=15 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112203546/https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/special-investigation-president-kiir-linked-multi-million-dollar-roads-contracts|archive-date=12 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The president's wife previously held shares in Yanyyom Mineral Water and Beverage Factory located in Juba. The factory took its name from Lake Yanyyom, located near the president's hometown Akon in Warrap State. Another owner of the factory was Garang Deng Aguer, a business magnate and former Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/special-investigation-kiir-did-business-ex-ncp-governor|title=Special investigation: Kiir did business with ex-NCP governor|work=Radio Tamazuj|date=24 June 2015|access-date=15 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131015539/https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/special-investigation-kiir-did-business-ex-ncp-governor|archive-date=31 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===South Sudan famine===
{{See also|2017 South Sudan famine}}
In the early months of 2017, parts of [[South Sudan]] experienced a [[famine]] following several years of instability in the country's food supply caused by civil war and [[drought]]. International humanitarian advocates stated the famine was manmade<ref>{{cite news |last1=Clooney & Prendergast |first1=George & John |title=South Sudan's government-made famine |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2017/03/09/south-sudans-government-made-famine/ |access-date=17 November 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=9 March 2017}}</ref> and pointed to the country's ongoing conflict for creating the famine conditions. More than 3 million people had been displaced by ongoing violence across the country, forcing families to abandon agricultural land and livestock, leaving them with few food resources to survive with.<ref>{{cite news |last1=MacSorley |first1=Dominic |title=South Sudan famine results from failure of political will |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/south-sudan-famine-results-from-failure-of-political-will-1.3022458 |access-date=17 November 2018 |publisher=The Irish Times |date=24 March 2017}}</ref> The worst fighting was in [[Unity State]], where tens of thousands of people fled their homes due to a government offensive against opposition-held areas.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Quinn |first1=B. |title=Famine declared in South Sudan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/feb/20/famine-declared-in-south-sudan |access-date=18 November 2018 |work=The Guardian |date=20 February 2017}}</ref>

Days after the declaration of famine, the government raised the price of a business visa from $100 to $10,000, mostly aimed at aid workers, citing a need to increase government revenue.<ref name=alaraby0317>{{cite news|url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2017/3/4/south-sudan-hikes-visa-cost-to-10-000-amid-famine|title=South Sudan hikes visa cost to $10,000 amid famine|publisher=Alaraby|date=5 March 2017|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref> U.N. officials said that Kiir was blocking food deliveries to some areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whio.com/news/world/famine-declared-part-south-sudan-government-and/ZT9UT22sGQUWxH1w5rIjYJ/|title=Famine declared in part of South Sudan by government and UN|date=20 February 2017|publisher=WHIO|access-date=2017-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221105314/http://www.whio.com/news/world/famine-declared-part-south-sudan-government-and/ZT9UT22sGQUWxH1w5rIjYJ/|archive-date=2017-02-21|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==
===Stetson hat===
[[File:Salva Kiir Mayardit with George Bush November 15, 2007.jpg|thumb|Kiir with United States [[George W. Bush|President George W. Bush]], 15 November 2007]]
In 2006, when visiting the [[White House]], Kiir received a black [[stetson]] as a gift from U.S. President [[George W. Bush]]. He reportedly liked it so much that he purchased several. He now rarely makes public appearances without wearing one.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Colum|last=Lynch|title=Where did Kiir get his ten-gallon hat?|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2011/09/26/where-did-kiir-get-his-ten-gallon-hat/|access-date=11 July 2016|magazine=Foreign Policy}}</ref>

===Marriage controversy===
In a politically charged social issue, it has been claimed that Kiir secretly married the daughter of former comrade, the late  [[William Nyuon Bany]], an ethnic Nuer and former leader of the SPLA. Allegedly, a traditional Dinka ceremony was conducted by his brothers. This led to strife between Kiir's eldest daughter and Aluel William Nyuon Bany.<ref>{{cite web|work=The Nairobian|title=Battles rock Salva Kiir family in Nairobi|url=http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/thenairobian/article/4998/battles-rock-salva-kiir-family-in-nairobi?pageNo=2|access-date=16 April 2014|publisher=Standard Media Group}}</ref> Kiir has not publicly commented on the allegation. According to media reports in Kenya, "Kiir's in-laws" have requested privacy.<ref>{{cite web|work=The Nairobian|title="Our family life is private" Kiirs in-law says|url=http://newskenya.co.ke/news/latest/the-standard/-our-family-life-is-private-kiirs-in-law-says/ebl9k.465347|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422233128/http://newskenya.co.ke/news/latest/the-standard/-our-family-life-is-private-kiirs-in-law-says/ebl9k.465347|archive-date=22 April 2014|access-date=21 April 2014|publisher=Standard Media}}</ref>

===Urinating incident===
On 13 December 2022, Kiir appeared at the inauguration of a road project, and the television broadcast of the event captured footage of Kiir [[urinary incontinence|involuntarily urinating]] and making a puddle on the ground, while he and others attending the event stood for the [[South Sudan Oyee!|South Sudanese national anthem]].<ref name="2022-12-15-YT-STV">{{cite web |title=South Sudan President Pee On His Body During Road Commissioning |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_96muXW0XM |website=YouTube |publisher=SaharaTV |access-date=7 January 2023 |language=en |format=Video |date=15 December 2022}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> The footage [[Viral video|went viral]] internationally, and the incident was attributed to the possibility that Kiir was suffering from a [[urinary tract infection]].<ref>{{cite web|work=Sahara Reporters|title=Viral Video: 71-Year-Old South Sudan President, Salva Kiir Mayardit Peeing Himself While Inaugurating Road Project|url=https://saharareporters.com/2022/12/14/viral-video-71-year-old-south-sudan-president-salva-kiir-mayardit-peeing-himself-while|access-date=16 December 2022|author=Omoyele Sowore}}</ref> On 18 December, it was reported that some of the journalists who had covered the incident were missing, and at least one was dead.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |url=https://www.kanyidaily.com/2022/12/journalists-who-filmed-south-sudan-president-salva-kiir-wetting-himself-reportedly-missing-others-found-dead.html |title=Journalists Who Filmed South Sudan President Salva Kiir Wetting Himself Reportedly Missing, Others Found Dead |first=Tobias |last=Sylvester |date=18 December 2022 |work=Kanyi Daily}}</ref>  On 6 January 2023, six TV team members from [[South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation]] were detained based on suspicion of distribution of unauthorized footage.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/06/six-journalists-reportedly-held-over-footage-of-south-sudans-president-wetting-himself |title=Six journalists arrested over footage of South Sudan president wetting himself |first=Danya |last=Hajjaji |date=7 January 2022 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

=== Works cited ===
*{{cite book 
|last1= LeRiche
|first1= Matthew
|last2= Arnold
|first2= Matthew
|year= 2013
|title= South Sudan: From Revolution to Independence
|location= Oxford
|publisher= Oxford University Press
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=OAQqBgAAQBAJ
|isbn=9780199333400
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Salva Kiir Mayardit}}
* [http://www.ipinst.org/events/speakers/details/230-salva-kiir-southern-sudan-vote-delay-could-risk-war.html Salva Kiir Speaks at the International Peace Institute], 22 September 2010
* [http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1417&fuseaction=topics.event_summary&event_id=152220 Kiir's Speech on First Visit to Washington] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716080924/http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1417&fuseaction=topics.event_summary&event_id=152220 |date=16 July 2011 }}, at [[Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars]], 4 November 2005
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120929100056/http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/2011/09/south-sudan-general-debate-66th-session.html Address by President Salva Kiir] to the 66th session of the [[United Nations General Assembly]], 23 September 2011 (video; [https://web.archive.org/web/20150124033600/http://gadebate.un.org/66/south-sudan-republic summary and transcript])
* [http://africanarguments.org/2014/10/13/profile-salva-kiir-south-sudans-commander-in-chief-image-vs-reality/ Profile: Salva Kiir - South Sudan's Commander-in-chief - image vs reality], 13 October 2014

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| title = [[List of Presidents of South Sudan|Vice President of Southern Sudan]]
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| title = [[List of Presidents of South Sudan|President of Southern Sudan]]
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{{SSudanPresidents}}
{{Heads of state of republics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kiir Mayardit, Salva}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Dinka people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Bahr el Ghazal]]
[[Category:People of the South Sudanese Civil War]]
[[Category:Presidents of South Sudan]]
[[Category:SPLM/SPLA Political-Military High Command]]
[[Category:South Sudanese Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Sudan People's Liberation Movement politicians]]
[[Category:Vice presidents of Sudan]]
[[Category:21st-century South Sudanese politicians]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Collar of Honour]]