Salva Kiir was sworn in as Sudanâs first vice president yesterday after the death of his predecessor John Garang and pledged to follow his legacy and work for unity despite past calls for independence for the mainly Christian or animist south. âWe really want our country to remain united,â Kiir said at a low-key ceremony in Khartoum where security was tight after several days of deadly rioting that greeted Garangâs death.Kiir, 54, took office less than two weeks after Garang was killed in a helicopter crash that raised fears for the future of a January peace deal that ended 21 years of war between southern rebels and the government in Khartoum. âI shall protect the sovereignty of the country,â said Kiir, a known separatist who led the military wing of Garangâs Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement Army (SPLM A) âI shall protect the countryâs decentralized system... and preserve unity... as God is my witness,â he said. âI wish to call on all Sudanese to engage in a process of national healing.â
One of his primary challenges will be to form a national unity government with former archfoe President Omar Bashir, a process interrupted by Garangâs death just three weeks after he became vice president under the Jan. 9 accord. Kiir, who replaced Garang as SPLM A head, will also have to help solve disputes surrounding oil-rich areas on the north-south border. He is also to continue talks with several Khartoum-backed southern militia chiefs with a view to rallying them to the peace agreement that ended Africaâs longest-running conflict. âThe Comprehensive Peace Agreement is not a bed of roses, and even a bed of roses has thorns. Letâs join hands to see that full participation in the process is ensured,â he said.
| Good luck, Salva. And be careful when you ride helis... |