President Salva Kiir today gave a speech at the national parliament comparing himself analogously to Jesus. He cast himself as a forgiving father figure ready to welcome back political exiles and as the 'Good Shepherd', a common Christian symbol for Jesus.

During his speech Kiir gestured to a number of the returned exiles known as the SPLM-G10, politicians who spent most of 2014 and part of this year in Kenya. He mentioned by name SPLM secretary-general Pagan Amum and former Justice Minister John Luk, who recently agreed to recognize Kiir as the legitimate chairman of the still divided ruling party.

“Let us all join hands and welcome our brothers among us. It has been said in the holy books that somebody who has lost one sheep among the hundred sheep, that he had left the 99 that he had and went to look for the lost sheep,” said Kiir.

“Until he got the sheep he went and then called his friends to celebrate because the lost sheep has been found. Now we have all the reasons to celebrate in Juba and South Sudan for the return of our brothers,” Kiir added.

The Christian Bible twice quotes Jesus as telling this story about the 100 sheep, both in the book of Luke and in the book of Matthew. It is commonly known as the Parable of the Lost Sheep. Elsewhere in the Bible, Jesus describes himself explicitly as 'the good shepherd'. The shepherd is a common symbol for Jesus in Christian literature and iconography.

Continuing his speech, Kiir made another Biblical reference, casting himself as a forgiving father and a powerful provider, hinting that he could provide jobs for the SPLM-G10 members as part of an upcoming cabinet reshuffle.

“In my capacity as the chairman of the SPLM I have already reinstated Dr. Riek Machar in his position as deputy or first deputy chairman of the SPLM and Comrade Pagan Amum as the secretary-general and some members among the group [SPLM-G10] in the positions they held in the party before the outbreak of the crisis. And we will do more to find positions for everybody.”

“Ah, you know Jesus said that here are so many rooms in his father's house,” the president said.

He drew this reference from the book of John in which Jesus describes heaven as a place with many rooms: “Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2-4).

Kiir's speech also touched on his accomplishments in office since he became regional president in 2005 and after independence in 2011. He spoke on the occasion of the extension of his term in office following the original expiry of his constitutional term. Parliament enacted a constitutional amendement earlier this year allowing him to continue as president until 2018.

Photo: President Salva Kiir addresses parliament today (Larco Lomayat)