S. Sudanese president to attend AU summit in South Africa
June 12, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir is in good health to attend an African Union summit scheduled for Saturday in Pretoria, South Africa, his office said.
“Yesterday [Thursday] the president was in the office from 9:00 am to 6:00pm and up to mid-night chairing the extraordinary joint consultative meeting of the SPLM political bureau, secretariat, cabinet and other political parties ahead of his scheduled trip to attend the African Union summit in South Africa,” said Ateny Wek Ateny.
“It was a mere wishful-thinking against the life of President Salva Kiir Mayardit [that he is sick]. We understand and recognize the frustration the enemies of this nation may undergo,” he told reporters summoned on short notice.
Reports on the South Sudaneses leader’s health status emerged last week and was widely reported by several newspapers in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum this week.
“Rumour mongers are creating such rumors in an attempt to divert the focus on peace talks meant to end the 18 months old conflict,” Ateny told reporters at a media briefing.
“The president is intact and so it does not become an issue here. The president is working extra time on his busy schedule in an attempt to restore peace to the world newest nation, but his detractors are busy around the clock trying to invoke the unwanted – the wishful thinking,” he added.
President Kiir has not addressed the press recently. His latest encounter with the media fraternity was early this month during the meeting with a delefation of the country’s former political detainees, athough he did not directly address members of the press.
The local media cautiously report about the South Sudanese leader’s health situation. something that would attract harsh responses from national security operatives.
(ST)