The country’s Foreign Ministry has rejected rumors spreading on social media.
South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry and international cooperation moved on Thursday to dispel reports of President Salva Kier’s death.
There was online speculation about the health of the 73-year-old leader, but the Foreign Ministry said Kiel was “living and fully involved in the service of the people.”
“False and malicious reports” have been criticized
The ministry said in a statement issued on Facebook that “denied false and malicious reports that are spreading on social media, claiming that his Excellency, Salva Kier Mayaldit, had passed away.”
According to a statement from the ministry, Kiel “continues to carry out his presidential duties with vitality, commitment, healthy health and full fitness.”
It denounced what was called “the intentional spread of misinformation aimed at creating unnecessary panic, confusion and instability.”
Later on Wednesday, reports on social media began to circulate about Kiel’s death. A Kenyan politician wrote on Platform X, where he heard that Kiel “kicked the bucket.”
“These are completely unfounded rumors produced by the enemy of peace, development, national construction and stability in South Sudan,” the Foreign Ministry said.
South Sudan’s fears
As South Sudan faces an unrest match, the claims face a unrest match in a clash between Kiel and Vice President Leek Machar that broke down in several parts of the country.
The United Nations warned that the country is wandering on the brink of a new civil war.
A peace agreement was signed in 2018, ending a five-year conflict that killed 400,000 people.
The agreement led to a power-sharing scheme in which Machar was one of five vice presidents working with President Salva Kir in the unified government.
Sources of AFP and South Sudan’s Government and Kieran Burke
Editor: Saim DuĊĦan Inayatullah
