Kiir: Time to Bury Divisions and Build the Nation

(JUBA) – President Salva Kiir has called for unity, reconciliation and national development as South Sudan celebrated its 14th Independence Day on Wednesday 9 July 2025. In a televised address to the nation, the president urged citizens and political actors to set aside their divisions for the sake of peace and progress in the world’s youngest country.

The president said South Sudan’s diversity should be used as a strength, not a weakness, as the country works to recover from more than a decade of violent conflict and economic hardship. He urged all communities to embrace peaceful co-existence and focus on building a shared future.

Since the outbreak of civil war in December 2013 following a failed coup, South Sudan has experienced deep political and ethnic divisions. Although a revitalised unity government was formed under the 2018 peace agreement, tensions have persisted. Recent clashes in Upper Nile State and the detention of opposition leader Riek Machar and his wife Angelina Teny have further tested the fragile peace.

Machar, who was accused of planning attacks in Upper Nile in March 2025, has remained under house arrest in Juba alongside Teny. Their detention has raised tensions in the capital and sparked concern among international partners. The United Nations has warned that the latest developments risk undermining the peace deal signed nearly seven years ago.

Despite these challenges, President Kiir reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the ongoing nationwide ceasefire. He said the unified armed forces, drawn from both government and opposition ranks, were a sign that the peace process was holding. He encouraged citizens to support the implementation of the security arrangements outlined in the 2018 agreement.

President Kiir also used his Independence Day speech to issue a strong warning to corrupt public officials. He promised that those found guilty of corruption would be removed from their positions. He said tackling corruption was a necessary step for achieving long term social and economic progress.

On development, the president pledged to continue investing in infrastructure and agriculture. He said new road projects and farming initiatives would help improve livelihoods across the country, particularly in rural areas. No specific amounts were mentioned in the speech.