S. Sudan’s Salva Kiir returns home amid health concerns
November 5, 2013 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese president Salva Kiir has returned to the country after reportedly traveling outside for a medical check-up.
Kiir, who turned 62 in September, was received at Juba International Airport by cabinet affairs minister Martin Elia Lomuro who was flanked by a line of cabinet ministers and armed generals.
No press statement was, however, made about the trip previously broadcast by the state-owned SSTV as an official visit to neighbouring Kenya, allegedly for bilateral talks with its government’s leadership.
However, conflicting reports later emerged over where the president had travelled and for what reasons.
In a broadcast on Monday, SSTV said Kiir was returning from a visit to Kenya, although no official comment was provided regarding the nature of the trip.
There was also no mention of the outcome of the scheduled meeting between Kiir and his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta or any related news in the Kenyan and South Sudanese media outlets regarding the trip.
A close presidential aide who did not want to be identified told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday that the president was suffering from exhaustion and had taken a “short leave” to attend “a general medical check-up” on Saturday outside the country.
The aide said the president had experienced difficulties in sleeping and loss of appetite, as well as unusual changes in his unusual physical appearance and voice.
According to the aide he approached several colleagues with his concerns about Kiir’s health, but the president put the symptoms down to a demanding work schedule and lack of rest.
“The president was not really sick but he experienced difficulties in sleeping for two days. That was on Thursday and Friday nights. One could see from the general appearance that he was not well but he insisted [on] going to work”, the aide said.
Government officials have so far refused to confirm or deny the reports.
Speculation over the president’ health has intensified on social media sites in recent days and reports have also emerged friends and relatives were paying him a courtesy visit on the development.
HEAVY WORKLOAD
In an apparent move to downplay public concerns, an armed general, widely known as a close and long-time ally of the president since, told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday that the president was “simply tired from his] workload and needed rest”.
“Anyone can feel tired and become weak from working too much, which is normal – even you in the media, there are times you feel tired [and need] to take rest”, he said.
“There is a lot work in that office and if you are not careful, especially if you want to ensure that you attend to every single issue like what president Salva is doing, you will definitely fall sick. The body itself needs rest and this is what I have been telling those in the office, especially his personal doctors, to be constantly observing the president and advise him accordingly. He needs to reduce [the] number of meetings [he attends]”, the general added.
The comments appeared aimed at countering speculation that the president’s possible health problems may affect his ability to run for another term in office in the 2015 elections. Reports from other sources close to the president indicate that he suffers from fatigue and low blood pressure and that his doctors have ordered him to reduce his workload. However, his office has yet to issue any statements about his health, prompting questions about whether he has a more serious illness.
Meanwhile, pictures broadcast on SSTV showed Kiir, who appeared in good health, disembarking from a Kenyan Airways flight on Monday.
Sudan Tribune was unable to obtain any official confirmation on whether the president had in fact travelled outside the country for medical attention, with officials at the presidential press unit declining to comment, describing it as a private matter.
“My friend, I think you better leave me. I cannot make any comment because it is beyond my assignment. What you are asking is a private thing and I cannot make any comment on private affairs. It is strictly prohibited and I will be in trouble”, a press officer who did not want to be named told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.
COUNTRY AT CROSSROADS
Garang Mawien, a native of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state currently in Juba, dismissed reports that president Kiir was “unwell”, despite there being no public statement on the matter.
“I do not want to speculate about the health of the president. I will wait until I get [an] official statement from our government then I [will] make my comment about it,” he said.
“I want to reserve myself because there is an overwhelming feeling that South Sudan is at a critical crossroad and we need a strong leader, a president who could tackle all these challenges. President Salva has proved that he commands public support at the moment and any irresponsible talk about his health will certainly undermine his image and standing in the public eyes as our leader”, he added.
Various opposition leaders have also avoided making any public comments on the matter, although there are reports that some individually contacted the president to send their “best wishes”.
(ST)