Salva Kiir Mayardit

**Salva Kiir Mayardit** (born 13 September 1951), dem commonly know as **Salva Kiir**, be a South Sudanese politician wey be de Presido of South Sudan since ein independence on 9 July 2011. Prior to independence, na he be de Presido of de Government of Southern Sudan, as well as First Vice President of Sudan, from 2005 to 2011. Na dem name am Commander-in-Chief of de Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) insyd 2005, dey follow de death of John Garang.

Na dem born Kiir to de Dinka ethnic group wey na he join Anyanya rebels wey dey fight for Southern independence during de First Sudanese Civil War insyd 1967. Dey follow de outbreak of de Second Sudanese Civil War insyd 1983, Kiir join de new Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) rebel group wey John Garang lead as a member of ein armed wing, de Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA), eventually he cam be de head of de SPLA. Dey follow de Comprehensive Peace Agreement, na de South gain autonomy under de leadership of Garang insyd July 2005. Dey follow Garang ein death at de end of de month, Kiir cam be de new Presido of de Southern Autonomous region, as well as First Vice Pee of de central government. Na Kiir win re-election as Presido dey follow de 2010 South Sudanese general election. De year wey dey follow, South Sudan gain independence after de 2011 South Sudanese independence referendum plus Kiir as ein inaugural Presido.

## Early life
Na dem born Kiir insyd 1951 into a pastoral Dinka family insyd de village of Akon insyd de Awan-Chan Dinka community insyd Gogrial County, South Sudan, as de eighth of nine kiddies (six boys den three girls) insyd de family. Na ein poppie, Kuethpiny Thiik Atem (d. 2007), be a cattle herder wey belong to de Payum clan. Na Atem get three wives, Awiei Rou Wol, Adut Makuei Piol den Awien Akoon Deng, along plus 16 kiddies. Na Kiir ein mommie, Awiei Rou Wol Tong be a farmer, wey belong to de Payii clan.

## Ein life matter

### Stetson hat
Insyd 2006, wen na he visit de White House, Kiir receive a black stetson as a gift from U.S. Presido George W. Bush. Na he reportedly like am so much dat he purchase chaw. He now rarely dey make public appearances widout wearing one.

### Marriage controversy
Insyd a politically charged social issue, na dem claim say Kiir secretly marry de daughter of former comrade, de late William Nyuon Bany, an ethnic Nuer den former leader of de SPLA. Allegedly, na dem conduct a traditional Dinka ceremony by ein brothers. Na dis lead to strife between Kiir ein eldest daughter den Aluel William Nyuon Bany. Kiir no publicly comment on de allegation. According to media reports insyd Kenya, na "Kiir's in-laws" request privacy.

### Religion
Kiir be Catholic.

## References


### Works dem cite
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## External links

* Salva Kiir Speaks at the International Peace Institute, 22 September 2010
* Kiir's Speech on First Visit to Washington Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, at Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 4 November 2005
* Address by President Salva Kiir to the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly, 23 September 2011 (video; summary and transcript)
* Profile: Salva Kiir – South Sudan's Commander-in-chief – image vs reality, 13 October 2014