South Sudan official says Kiir to stay in power a long time, cites Mugabe

Deputy Education Minister Bol Makueng

A South Sudanese deputy minister says he would not be surprised if President Salva Kiir stays longer in power than expected, citing the period spent by revolutionary leaders in other African countries.

Deputy Education Minister Bol Makueng called on people to work with the government and the president instead of agitating for his removal from office.

“We must be frank to ourselves and the world around us. There is no alternative to President Salva Kiir. For those who do not like him due to reasons known to them only, there is nothing the people of South Sudan can do about their opinions...”

“But one thing is obvious: they must accept that President Salva Kiir Mayardit is going nowhere anytime soon and they must prepare for a long wait because I don’t see our people changing their minds to choose the alternate leader soon. He is the only unifying national figure we have at the moment,” Minister Makueng told members his Agar Dinka community at a get-together social function at his residence on Sunday.

Makueng cited the period spent in power by Sudanese President Omar al Bashir, who has ruled since 1989, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.

“When a country sees no alternative leader the incumbent leader continues to lead because people are happy with the style of leadership of that particular leader. We have seen this happening in Sudan, in Uganda and as far as Zimbabwe. This is not because these leaders do not want to leave the power but the people themselves in these countries are the ones who do not see the alternative,” he stressed.

Source: https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/south-sudan-official-says-kiir-stay-power-long-time-cites-mugabe