South Sudan President Salva Kiir said on Tuesday that government officials who accompanied him on what he described as a private visit to the Bahr el Ghazal region had expected him to distribute money, but insisted he had no cash to hand out.
A large delegation of politicians, ruling party officials and security personnel accompanied Kiir on his tour of the Bahr el Ghazal region, a trip he described as private. The visit has prompted speculation over its cost.
Addressing a public rally in Aweil, and speaking in the Dinka language, Kiir said officials from both the national and state governments had joined the trip believing he would make financial donations.
“As you can see, all government officials have come here thinking that I am here to distribute money to the people, but I don’t have it,” he said.
Despite the remarks in Aweil, Kiir announced a donation of 500 million South Sudanese pounds to cultural and community groups, including traditional chiefs, artists, women and youth associations.
The president also reaffirmed plans to hold general elections in December 2026, saying the vote would take place once the current transitional period under the country’s peace agreement expires.
“Every peace agreement has a timeline and people go for elections when its period has elapsed, so we are going to conduct the elections in December 2026,” he said.
Kiir, who did not spend the night in Aweil, said he would return to the town to campaign and noted that other candidates would also contest the presidency.
Without naming any potential challenger, he told supporters that “that person whom you don’t know now, but you will know later, will also express his candidacy interest.”
He urged citizens to preserve peace and said those opposed to peace should be isolated from the community.
The president also called for increased agricultural production during the current rainy season to help tackle food shortages, echoing remarks he made earlier in Kuajok, Warrap State, that South Sudan should rely more on domestic food production than humanitarian assistance.
“This rainy season must be utilised for massive agriculture so that hunger can be addressed,” he said.
Kiir further announced that he would seek parliamentary approval to rename the University of Northern Bahr el Ghazal as the University of Aweil and encouraged residents to mobilise resources to support the institution’s development.
Before concluding his address in Aweil, Kiir said the official campaign period for the planned elections would begin in July.
“I thank you all and I hope to meet you here again as the campaign will start in July,” he said.
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