S. Sudan’s Kiir in South Africa, dispels ill-health rumour
June 13, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese pesident Salva Kiir, currently in South Africa to attend an African Union summit, has dismissed reports claiming he has been ill lately.
The minister in the office of the president, Awan Guol Riak told reporters that the South Sudan leader was travelling to South Africa to attend the African Union summit.
The summit, he said, is expected to hold discussions on a host of continental matters during its 25th ordinary session of assembly of Heads of States and governments.
According to the country’s deputy minister of foreign affairs and Peter Bashir Gbandi, the African Union summit will be held at Sandton International Conference Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 14 June and shall continue up to 15th June under theme, year of women empowerment and development towards Africa’s agenda 2063.
The summit will provide an opportunity for the president to interact with the attending heads of state and government on the progress made in the search for peace to settle the current political and security situation in the country and devise ways out of more than 17 months war, said the minister.
The presidential press secretary, Ateny Wek Ateny said media reports on Kiir’s alleged illness was “wishful thinking” of those intending to divert attention from the peace talks.
“The president is healthy and strong. He has no problem. He is going about his normal duties. All these reports are unfounded. They are work of enemy of peace. The president is today traveling to South Africa to attend the African union submit in his capacity as the head of state of one of the member state of the African union”, Ateny told reporters.
Meanwhile, several government officials privy to the health of the president argued that media reports have compelled the presidency to change previous arrangements in which the vice president James Wani Igga was expected to attend the African Union summit.
“I think the media reports have compelled the presidency to change the arrangement which I knew. The vice president was supposed to travel to South African to attend the African union submit because the president was advised by his medical team to reduce schedules and take enough rest. I don’t know the reason for making this advice but I think he has overworked himself. Or he has been unwell,” a minister told Sudan Tribune.
“The medical team knows why and they are the people who are in better to provide you with the right information”, the minister, who asked not named, added Saturday.
Multiple government critics argued that the decision of the presidency allowing Kiir to go on foreign trip, despite concerns over his health, allegedly as an opportunity to attend to seek medical care in South Africa and also show the public he was not sick as claimed.
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