“Missing” S. Sudan army officer meets with president Kiir

December 8, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s deputy chief of staff, who was reportedly “missing” from the country last week, met with president Salva Kiir on Monday.

He said allegations that he had disappeared were ” pure lies”.

“I was on a mission to Switzerland and I finished the course and came back home on Saturday,” Cirillo told reporters in Juba, adding that reports claiming he disappeared were incorrect.

Security sources told Sudan Tribune over the weekend that Cirillo was unreachable for two days, amid speculation that the senior officer may have deserted the army to join the country’s opposition group.

Flanked by presidential spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny, Cirillo said Monday’s mainly focused on his Switzerland trip with discussions on “military issues”.

A veteran soldier who fought in the 1983-2005 civil wars in Sudan, Cirillo said he had no intention to fail the country he helped to create.

“[My message to] the public and those people who creating this kind of rumours, is that we are committed to this country. We fought for this country. We fought for the people of this country and we will continue to be committed to our people so that they realise their aspirations of peace, freedom and for a just society,” he said.

Cirillo, who hails from Central Equatoria state, played s key role in behind-the-scenes negotiations that saw president Kiir pardon several rebel groups in 2013 after the former had scrutinised all their demands.

(ST)