Salva Kiir

Salva Kiir Mayardit is a South Sudanese politician and military leader who has served as the country’s first President since South Sudan gained independence in 2011. Born in Bahr el Ghazal in 1951, Kiir was a senior commander in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) during the long civil war against Sudan. His presidency has been shaped by political instability, peace negotiations, and efforts to rebuild the world’s youngest nation.