South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit arrived in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State on Tuesday and addressed a public rally at Aweil Freedom Square, where he told the gathering that he was there for a private visit.
On Saturday, Kiir said his visit to his home region of Warrap State was a private trip, but used a public rally in Kuajok to call for continued support for peace efforts and preparations for elections scheduled for December 2026.
The president traveled overland from his home village of Akon in Warrap State’s Gogrial West County to Northern Bahr El Ghazal State’s Aweil East County.
“I am not here for official visitation, but I am here for private purposes, and I realized that people have an interest in meeting me; that’s why I came here,” he told the crowd. “I am so glad to be with you today in Aweil Town, and I have recognized the type of welcome you have shown me. Since I was coming on my way, I got people gathered on the roads welcoming me.”
Many citizens and activists across Northern Bahr El Ghazal State demanded that the government deliver services. Kiir last visited the area in 2023.
Abuk Azuber, a resident of Aweil Center County, decried the lack of primary and secondary schools, saying the local population has been increasing amid medical services and water shortages.
“We do not have schools; we do not have water facilities, although the population of Aweil Center County has increased because dwellers from Northern Bahr El Ghazal State’s counties of Aweil West, Aweil North, Aweil South, and Aweil East migrated here for farming activities,” she said. “The three-month medical consignment donated by the Government of South Sudan and partners gets finished in less than a week.”
Meanwhile, Malong Bak Malong, First Deputy Chairperson of the Northern Bahr El Ghazal State Civil Society Network, urged the president to fulfill all his promises by funding the road links between Northern Bahr el Ghazal State and Juba.
“I urge the president to fulfill the promises he made to the people of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State by connecting Aweil with the national capital, Juba, through the Juba-Bahr El Ghazal Road because we are still suffering due to the lack of safe roads,” he said.
The activist has also urged the president to sponsor the construction of the University of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, a long-awaited promise from the president’s office.
“I also urge the president to reconsider a project of the University of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, and heard there was a promise from him to build the university, but nothing has materialized up to now,” Bak added.
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