South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit returned to Juba on Friday after a five-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), though little information has been made public about the outcomes of his trip.
Presidential Press Secretary Ambassador David Amuor Majur said Kiir held several diplomatic engagements with Emirati officials focusing on development and economic cooperation. However, no official photographs, press releases, or Emirati media coverage of the meetings were published during the visit.
Kiir was received at Juba International Airport by Vice President for the Economic Cluster Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel and other senior government officials.
A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, dismissed recent speculation circulating on social media that the president would extend his stay in the Gulf nation, calling the claims “fake news.”
The trip marked Kiir’s third visit to the UAE in 2025. His June visit, which lasted ten days, prompted speculation about his health after the government provided no detailed briefings.
His first trip of the year, in February, was described as a three-day working visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.
South Sudan and the UAE maintain diplomatic and trade ties, with Abu Dhabi providing humanitarian support to the conflict-affected country.
Political observer Edmond Yakani said recently that the government should be more transparent about the president’s foreign trips and the outcomes of his development and economic engagements.
“Public briefings on the outcomes of these visits are crucial to inform citizens about the president’s diplomatic efforts,” Yakani said.