Salva Kiir Mayardit
Salva Kiir Mayardit, also known as Salva Kiir, is a South Sudanese politician who has been the President of South Sudan since its independence on 9 July 2011. Prior to independence, he was the President of the Government of Southern Sudan, as well as First Vice President of Sudan, from 2005 to 2011. He was named Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) in 2005, following the death of John Garang.
Some of the key events about Salva Kiir Mayardit
- 1983Joined the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) to fight for South Sudanese independence
- 1983Participated in the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) rebellion against the Sudanese government, contributing to decades of civil war
- 1997Appointed as the SPLA Chief of General Staff
- 2005Became the First Vice President of Sudan and President of Southern Sudan following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement
- 2005Appointed as First Vice President of Sudan, despite lacking significant political experience
- 2011Led South Sudan to independence, becoming the country's first president
- 2013Initiated peace talks with rebel leader Riek Machar to end civil conflict
- 2013Accused former Vice President Riek Machar of attempting a coup, leading to a civil war in South Sudan
- 2014Refused to sign a peace agreement to end the civil war, prolonging the conflict
- 2015Signed a peace agreement to end the South Sudanese Civil War
- 2015Rejected UN sanctions and peacekeepers, hindering international efforts to resolve the conflict
- 2016Formed a Transitional Government of National Unity with opposition leader Riek Machar
- 2016Dismissed Vice President Riek Machar, further escalating political tensions
- 2017Declared a state of emergency in parts of the country, granting the military expanded powers
- 2018Signed the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan
- 2018Signed another peace deal but failed to implement key provisions, maintaining instability
- 2019Delayed formation of a unity government, violating terms of the peace agreement
- 2020Formed a unity government with opposition leaders, ending a six-year civil war
- 2020Appointed governors from his own party, disregarding power-sharing arrangements in the peace deal
- 2021Oversaw the formation of a new transitional parliament as part of the peace process
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