Salva Kiir: The sly army veteran you never knew

By JOHN OYWA

Salva Kiir Mayardit, the bearded former army general who is poised to become the President of the world’s youngest republic is no stranger to Kenyans.

He has been to Kenya on countless occasions and his trademark cowboy hat makes him easily identifiable even to children.

His last publicly known official visit to Kenya was in early 2009 when he spent two days in Kisumu during which he was installed as a Luo elder and presented with instruments of leadership that included a three legged traditional stool known as Kom Nyaluo, a black flywhisk, a beaded skull cap similar to the one worn by Kenya’s first Vice-President, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

Salva Kiir Mayardit

President Kiir  with Uganda leader, Yoweri Museveni (left).

Salva Kiir with retired President Moi (second right) in Juba last year  [PHOTOS: FILE/STANDARD  AND COURTESY]

Kiir was also presented with a specially decorated goatskin bag – all to recognise him as an African leader.

As if hat was not enough, the Great Lakes University awarded President Kiir a doctorate degree, for his role in championing the Southern Sudanese struggle for independence.

During the presentation he said his Dinka tribe was closely related to the Luo, hence his decision to accept the gift.

His dream

A strategist who weighs his words with care, Kiir told the assembled guests — who included Prime Minister Raila Odinga that his dream was to see Southern Sudan gaining autonomy from the North.

And he once made his feelings clear, by saying: "The upcoming referendum is a choice between being a second-class citizen in your own country, or a free person in your independent state."

Kiir last year became the first elected President of his semi-autonomous country in an election that appeared to have been a rehearsal for the on-going referendum that has kept the world leaders glued to the media.

He has also been Vice-President of the Republic of the Sudan, a position he inherited following the death in a helicopter crash of former South Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) John Garang in 2005, just weeks after being sworn in following a Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Kenya to end years of bloody war between the North and the South.

Described by many as a reluctant politician, Kiir has successfully held together the SPLM. He was an important member of Garang’s inner circle and was military leader of the SPLM.

PEACE DEAL

He was involved in the early stages of negotiating the 2005 peace deal — which ended 21 years of civil war — and was already well-known to the government in Khartoum before becoming national vice-president as part of the deal.

Mr Kiir joined the southern rebellion in Sudan in the late 1960s.

In 1983 the southern rebellion was renewed and Garang was sent to quell a mutiny by troops in the south — but instead of putting down the mutineers, he joined them.

Mr Kiir was with him.

Unlike his predecessor, Mr Kiir is not a gifted orator and is said to be easily bored in long speeches.

Mr Kiir is from the same Dinka tribe. "He is a strategist who weighs his words before speaking," a collimnist once wrote.

Historians say that Garang’ had little military field experience and relied upon the more experienced veterans, including Kiir. This explains Kiir fast rise to the top.

Little is known about his family but he is married with grown-up children.

— With additional reporting from the BBC