South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit yesterday while addressing members of parliament said that differences within the ruling class are hindering the national interest. Kiir said people fight internally rather than looking for external enemies.

Kiir made this short remark yesterday morning at the National Legislative Assembly while paying tribute to late Dr Peter Nynot Kok Malok, former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research during the time of Sudan's National Unity Government.

“Our problem is that we fight inwards, we don’t look externally where our enemies come from…..let us stop this,” Kiir told members of parliament during his remarks. “If we among ourselves leave our differences and work for the building of our nation then we would have paid our real respect to our heroes who have gone before us like those of Peter,” he said.

“Let us be the exemplary to do all what this people wanted us to do. We need such people,” Kiir added.

Late Dr Peter died in Germany two weeks ago and his body will be taken to his hometown in Lakes State.

File photo: President Salva Kiir with his wife Mary Ayen (left) and Governor Nyandeng Malek (right), 2010 (GOSS Presidential Press Unit/Thomas Kenneth Elisapana)