By Kei Emmanuel Duku
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has refuted social media rumor on death of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, labeling it as false.
“The President is alive and in good health,”, the ministry assured the world in a statement to diffuse the rumour.
Kenyan blogger and activist, Alinur Mohamed, engineered the rumour, writing on his Facebook page that, “I hear President Salva Kiir of South Sudan has kicked the bucket. Let’s wait for the official communication.”
The post quickly garnered mixed reactions and spread across various social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).
Many South Sudanese on the platforms denounced Mohamed as an “Enemy of Progress” and an “enemy of South Sudan peace process.”
Though the wild rumour spread wide and attracted attention in reactions post, both within South Sudan and the diaspora, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation maintained it as unfounded claim.
“The Ministry categorically and strongly denies the false and malicious reports circulating on social media claiming that His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit has passed away,” the statement reads in part.
According the ministry, President Kiir is actively engaged in serving the nation and will continue to fulfill his duties with vigor, commitment, sound health, and complete fitness.
“The Ministry condemns in the strongest terms this deliberate spread of misinformation aimed at creating unnecessary panic, confusion, and instability. Such fake news only serves the interests of those who wish to undermine our nation’s sovereignty, hard-won peace, and progress,” the statement stressed.
Foreign Affairs Ministry urged the public to disregard the rumors and refrain from sharing unverified information, emphasizing that these baseless and irresponsible claims are fabricated by enemies of peace, development, and nation-building with the aim of destabilizing the country.
“South Sudan remains stable, and the Government is committed to advancing the welfare of the people and implementing its national duties ordinarily and as expected,” the statement added.
Before the rumor circulated widely on social media, Office of the President had posted a picture of Salva Kiir Mayardit, bidding farewell to four Ambassadors, Anthony Kon, Morris Natali, Lily Adhieu, and Jacklin Natibe, set to represent South Sudan in Kenya, China, Qatar, and Ghana, respectively.
On the day of his purported death, Wednesday 14th May, President Salva Kiir also received two diplomats.
Amb. David Ashley of the UK and Amb. Anil Nautiyal of India, presented their credentials to Salva Kiir Mayardit, at the Presidential Palace, (in picture above) on the very day, the wild rumour hit social media.
This is not the first instance of President Kiir being falsely rumored dead. In 2016, similar rumors of his passing due to a short illness caused panic among citizens. However, President Kiir subsequently appeared publicly, touring the streets of Juba City to dispel those rumors.