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NEVER TRUST PRESIDENT KIIR FOR PEACE. Opinion by Ayella John Bosco

Why President Kiir Should Not Be Trusted by Anybody 

24th July, 2025

In 2018, the Vice Chancellor of Juba University, Prof. Akech, awarded President Kiir with an honorary doctorate of peace—a gesture that portrayed him as a person of peace. Many who knew what peace is, like me, criticised the award. Today, let me share my opinion on Kiir and peace. In his parliamentary opening earlier this month, President Kiir emphasised the need for peace in the country; however, there is no clear thought on what exactly he meant by embracing peace among the people. 

One can easily say President Kiir is a hypocrite, living behind a barbaric tyranny. It is even more nuanced to say President Kiir doesn't understand peace, and he is a man of war—so no opposition party or common citizen should believe him. 

The 2013 war: Although President Kiir had a good record before the independence of South Sudan, the first mess of his good records stemmed from when he declared war on reformers and ultimately targeted key leaders. His war swept across the country, displacing and killing people and destroying property. Although the opposition demanded peaceful resolutions, he denied it; later, he signed what he called the Compromised Peace Agreement. 

The War of 2016: When the opposition agreed to join the shaky peace wagon in Juba, President Kiir again told the world that he is not a man of peace who will bring reformations and transformation to the country. He devised his notorious plan to kill peace partners—God forbid! He only succeeded in taking the country back to zero level by causing destructive raids on civilians while preaching peace.

The 2018 Revitalised Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan: In one of his addresses, Kiir, after signing this peace agreement, promised not to take the country to war again. His statement agreed with the fact that all the wars of 2013 and 2016 were caused by him. Following his words, one wonders why the president sounds confident while reassuring the South Sudanese, yet does the opposite when it comes to peace, as he fails to implement it. 

The arrests and detention of opposition members—a true democratic government values a multiparty system. President Kiir sounds democratic and peaceful when he talks to people, but what he does is contrary to believing him as a man of peace. The continuous arrest of peace partners by his regime indicates he doesn't know what peace is. 

Killing and bombing civilians: No government that loves peace will acquire arms to bomb its citizens, whatever the case may be. Kiir's acquisition and deployment of weapons against the Nuer and some parts of the people of Warrap and Unity states is not peace but war.

There are several reasons to believe Kiir is a hypocrite who preaches peace in the day but stealthily kills peace partners and civilians at night. Frankly, with whom does he talk peace if he jails the people he demands peace from? The scripture has a key passage for peace: Romans 14:19—"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification." 

Peace requires us to make every effort, and President Kiir should make every effort to stop arresting and jailing his opponents, no matter the cost. He should stop bombing civilians and, if possible, resign or stop appointing and remove infidels of destruction for peace to prevail.

In conclusion, Kiir's track record shows he is not trustworthy when it comes to peace. His words and actions do not align, and his regime is marked by violence and human rights abuses. Anyone who trusts him for peace is likely to be disappointed. Kiir's presidency has been characterised by conflict, violence, and instability. It's time to acknowledge the reality of his leadership and work towards a more peaceful and democratic future.

With all the mentioned examples and others, President Kiir should not be trusted for peace, as his words do not translate into tangible actions. Anyone who wishes to trust Kiir for peace must prepare to dig his grave as he joins his concocted peace accords. The people of South Sudan deserve better than a leader who prioritises violence and oppression over peace and democracy.

END

Ayella John Bosco

Writer, Critic, and Teacher.

Don't hesitate to contact me for anything 

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