South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has delivered a call for peace and reconciliation as his fractured country marks 14 years of independence on Wednesday.
In his independence speech, President Kiir called on his compatriots to bury their political and ther differences and reconcile in the interest of building a nation bedeviled by more than a decade of strife.
Kiir said embracing its diverse cultures should be the country’s strength in its quest for socio-economic development.
South Sudan has been mired by conflict since an abortive coup in December 2013 and despite the institution of a unity government, tensions had remained.
This culminated in period flareups between Kiir’s government and supporters of Riek Machar who is still detained after being accused of orchestrating attacks in oil-rich Upper Nile State in March.
Since then Machar and his wife Angelina Teny have been under house arrest, leading to tension in the capital Juba.
The UN had warned the crisis had put the 2018 peace deal in jeopardy and risk conflagration in the region.
However, President Kiir reminded the nation of the ongoing nationwide ceasefire, which he believes reflects the coalition government’s commitment to peace through a force unifying both government troops and rebels.
The South Sudanese leader also vowed to be firm on corrupt officials who would be removed from the system in a bid to promote social and economic growth.
He also promised that his government would continue investing in roads and agriculture projects to boost development and improve livelihoods.
WN/as/APA