Kiir's Mythomania and Systemic Disrespect for Peace

The Collapse of Trust — Kiir's Mythomania and Systemic Disrespect for Peace

The South Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance (SSFDA) expresses its deep outrage and condemnation at the persistent and deliberate violations of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) by President Salva Kiir and the SPLM-IG leadership. The recent dismissal of Hon. Peter Marcello, the SPLM-IO-appointed Minister of Energy and Dams, represents not only a blatant breach of the power-sharing framework but also a further step in the calculated political erosion of opposition participation.

The unilateral removal of an opposition-designated minister — without consultation, consensus, or constitutional process — is emblematic of President Kiir's consistent pattern of undermining both the letter and the spirit of the peace agreement. It follows years of repression, targeted arrests, forced disappearances, and ethnicized violence that have come to define his tenure.

A Culture of Systemic Disrespect

Kiir’s actions are not accidental. They reflect a deep-rooted contempt for political pluralism, democratic norms, and the sovereign rights of other South Sudanese political movements. Whether through the imposition of an unmandated state of emergency in Warrap and Mayom, or the use of foreign mercenaries and tribal militias to carry out extrajudicial killings and bomb civilian areas such as Mandeng, the message is clear: dissent will be silenced, and power consolidated through force.

What is most alarming is the growing body of credible reports indicating aerial bombardments on IDP settlements — attacks that constitute war crimes under international humanitarian law. Meanwhile, communities in Upper Nile, Jonglei, and Unity States remain under siege by forces aligned with or sponsored by the government. These acts of aggression go far beyond governance failures. They are calculated moves to entrench rule through terror.

The Mythomaniac in State House

It is now evident to all reasonable observers — including IGAD, the African Union, and Troika partners — that President Kiir’s public rhetoric about peace, federalism, and fiscal responsibility is a façade. He says “peace” while bombing civilians. He claims “land belongs to the people” while orchestrating land grabs. He speaks of “economic discipline” while presiding over one of the most corrupt and extractive governments in Africa.

This is not statesmanship — it is mythomania, the pathological use of lies to manipulate perception and prolong personal power. President Kiir has become a man untethered from reality, relying on a shrinking inner circle, foreign mercenaries, and a surveillance state to suppress a population he no longer represents.

A Decaying Legitimacy

The SSFDA maintains that no political process with Kiir at its center can succeed. His regime is structurally incapable of reform. It is sustained through patronage, violence, and fear. The use of titles such as “Honourable” for individuals such as Bol Mel, whose credentials and competence remain in question, only underscores the deep rot of political legitimacy in Juba. When incompetence is rewarded with power, and impunity is institutionalized, the result is the very crisis South Sudan now faces.

Our Call to the International Community

The international community can no longer afford to treat these violations as unfortunate setbacks or isolated incidents. They are the inevitable outcomes of a failed political architecture in which one man controls all levers of power and no meaningful accountability exists.

We therefore call upon:

1. IGAD and the AU to publicly censure the government of South Sudan for breaching the R-ARCSS;
   

2. Troika states to suspend all non-humanitarian assistance until verifiable actions are taken to uphold the agreement;
   

3. The UN and donor community to initiate independent investigations into the use of foreign mercenaries and aerial attacks on civilians;
   

4. All peace partners to support a new political framework that prioritizes inclusive federalism, civilian protection, and the dismantling of centralized authoritarian control.
   

A Path Forward

SSFDA stands for a democratic, federal South Sudan — one built on rule of law, dignity, and people-centered leadership. We believe that true leadership is shown by example, not by force. And we know with certainty that no sane parent in South Sudan would hold Salva Kiir or Bol Mel up as models for their children.

The future cannot be built by those who destroy it. It must come from the courage of a new generation and the principles of accountability, inclusivity, and justice.

And that is preciesly what SSFDA stand for