South Sudan’s government has denied rumors of the death of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, stating that the 73-year-old leader is in “good health.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement rejecting the “false and malicious” reports circulating on social media, affirming that Kiir continues to perform his duties with “strength, commitment, and good health.”
Kiir, who has been in power since 2011, has faced increasing speculation about his health in recent months. The rumors of his death resurfaced on May 14, when a Kenyan influencer claimed that Kiir had passed away.
In recent months, tensions have flared in South Sudan, especially in the Upper Nile State, where battles have broken out between the army loyal to Kiir and militias the government claims are aligned with former Vice President Riek Machar.
The government’s decision to arrest Machar in March was seen as an attempt to remove him from the list of potential successors to Kiir. This action has further strained the fragile power-sharing agreement that ended the country’s civil war in 2018, contributing to a renewed period of political instability.
