In the heart of East Africa, a paradox unfolds. South Sudan dictator, Salva Kiir Mayardit—a man who kneels in prayer, hosts the Pope, and professes deep devotion to Catholic teachings—is also a ruler whose legacy is marred by conflict. As his tenure nears its twilight, his story appears destined to conclude not with peace but with yet another brutal civil war and regional destabilization. How does a self-proclaimed man of faith become an architect of perpetual conflict? And what does his militarism mean for a nation already on the brink?
The devout warrior
Kiir’s identity is a study in contradictions. His religious affiliations paint the picture of a devout leader—dining with bishops, welcoming Pope Francis for prayer, and publicly invoking divine guidance. Yet, he has conspicuously defied the fundamental commandment: ‘Thou shalt not kill.’ Since South Sudan gained independence in 2011, his leadership has been defined by atrocity rather than stability. Just two years into his presidency, civil war erupted, claiming nearly 400,000 lives. By 2016, another wave of violence shattered hopes of reconciliation.
The Church, both domestically and globally, has long urged Kiir to embrace genuine peace. However, his actions remain unchanged— ‘Kiir shalt kill.’ Peace agreements negotiated in Addis Ababa, Arusha, Khartoum, Rome, and Nairobi have repeatedly collapsed under his watch. Now, after 21 years in power, Kiir appears poised to reignite conflict once again, with consequences that could destabilize the entire region.
A survival strategy built on war
Kiir has long maintained his grip on power through a combination of tribal loyalty and foreign alliances. His presidential guard and national army, remain fragmented, unprofessional, and frequently unpaid. When faced with domestic resistance, such as recent uprisings in Nasir—Kiir, while publicly committing to peace, has covertly outsourced violence to mercenaries and foreign troops.
He has authorized Uganda’s People’s Defence Force (UPDF) to operate within South Sudan, ordering foreign mercenaries to conduct airstrikes in Nasir County, Longechuk, and Akoba—regions predominantly inhabited by the Nuer ethnic group—resulting in the deaths of more than 20 civilians, including women and children. Uganda, already condemned by the International Court of Justice for its role in conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has reinforced its role as Kiir’s military enforcer, operating within South Sudan with impunity. Recently, UPDF Chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba publicly threatened to invade and occupy Khartoum, prompting outrage from Sudan’s junta under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. When Burhan’s government demanded an apology, Uganda refused, while Kiir simultaneously finalized an agreement allowing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to establish a strategic outpost near Sudan’s border.
This March, leveraging Uganda’s military support, Kiir opened a new front in Upper Nile, deploying UPDF units alarmingly close to Khartoum. This maneuver not only shocked Burhan but also intensified regional tensions, as Kenya has tacitly supported the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Burhan’s paramilitary adversaries. The result? A proxy battleground where Burhan’s enemies, bolstered by Kenyan diplomacy and Ugandan military power, now challenge Sudan’s central authority.
The cost of perpetual conflict
Kiir’s strategic calculus is clear: war sustains his rule. However, the collateral damage continues to escalate. South Sudan’s sovereignty has become a transactional commodity, “traded like tomatoes,” as critics lament. The UPDF’s presence violates international law and erodes the fragile trust of South Sudanese citizens, whose national army has not received salaries in over a year. Uganda, too, risks long-term repercussions. A post-Kiir government in South Sudan could demand reparations for Kampala’s military interventions, much like the Democratic Republic of the Congo did.
Yet for Kiir, the human toll appears secondary. Even as he exchanged letters with Pope Francis this spring—once again pledging “never to return the country to war”—his helicopters and mercenary aircraft bombed Nasir. This hypocrisy is not new. In 2019, Pope Francis made a dramatic gesture, kneeling to kiss Kiir’s feet in a heartfelt plea for peace. Months later, the violence resumed.
With the international community preoccupied with global crises, South Sudan’s looming descent into renewed conflict risks being ignored. But disregarding Kiir’s actions could have dire consequences. By inviting Ugandan troops closer to Sudan, he has transformed the Sudanese crisis into a regional flashpoint. Kenya’s support for the RSF, Ethiopia’s internal fractures, and Eritrea’s autocratic isolationism have all set the stage for a crisis reminiscent of the Congo Wars of the 1990s—a geopolitical nightmare of competing military factions, resource exploitation, and humanitarian catastrophe.
A nation held hostage
Kiir’s defenders argue that he is a product of his environment—a former guerrilla commander who fought for independence, only to inherit a nation without institutions, a stable economy, or a cohesive national identity. Yet, after 21 years in power, such justifications ring hollow. The tragedy of South Sudan—a nation abundant in oil yet devoid of unity—is that its leader prioritizes personal survival over state-building.
Far from restraining his ruthlessness, Kiir’s religious affiliations have become a shield, enabling him to deflect scrutiny through performative piety. His potential successor, Vice President for Economic Cluster Bol Mel, was once a seminarian on the path to becoming a Catholic priest. The reasons for his departure from the priesthood remain known only to him and God. However, his reputation for financial mismanagement and state resource capture has already sparked public concern.
As East Africa teeters on the edge of another regional crisis, critical questions remain: Can a leader who has weaponized faith and normalized war ever be held accountable? Or will his final act be to drag millions into a catastrophe of his own making? For Salva Kiir, the answer may lie in a grim maxim: When your only tool is a hammer, every problem becomes a nail—even if that nail is the coffin of an entire region.
If the UPDF’s incursions escalate further north, Sudan’s war could spiral into a continental crisis. The African Union, after numerous meetings and fruitless resolutions, appears paralyzed—unable to enforce peace or even advance the federal system that many view as a long-term solution for South Sudan. Meanwhile, Kiir’s domestic opposition is gaining momentum, and his foreign patrons in Kampala may soon find their ambitions colliding with geopolitical realities.
In the end, the self-styled devout Catholic who thrives on conflict may learn that even the most calculated plans of warlords can unravel. As history—and scripture—remind us, pride often precedes the fall.
Kiir is a practicing animist who does not believe in a divine authority where human rights are protected and upheld. He values cattle over human life, viewing South Sudan as his domain and its people as little more than his livestock.
The writer is Kenyi YA Kenyi, a South Sudanese Human Rights Lawyer, and he can be reached via: kenyiyasin@gmail.com.
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made is the responsibility of the author, not Radio Tamazuj.