President Salva Kiir (from right), and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar at the funeral of General John Kong Nyuon in Juba. January 7, 2023. (Photo: PPU).

President Salva Kiir and his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar have suggested building monuments in honor of the country’s fallen heroes and heroines in their ancestral lands.

The two leaders disclosed the plan during the last funeral prayers of the former SPLA commander and one-time minister of defense. Gen. John Kong Nyuon in Juba on Saturday.

Dr. Riek Machar said building monuments for these “iconic” personalities will remind the coming generation of the country’s history.

“Mr. President, it is good to make monuments across the nation. Today, we have only one monument John Garang Mausoleum. There are others that have passed away that we also need to recognize with monuments in the region,” Machar said.

“They can be in the regions they come from and particularly in their hometowns, somebody can say I must visit so that our history is kept, and our heroes are remembered.”

Speaking during the same occasion, President Kiir also upheld the suggestion.

However, he said the current security situation in the country is an obstacle to building the monuments.

“Before, Dr. Riek said something about building monuments for our heroes for example we should have a monument for John Kong in Fangak,” said the head of state.

“It’s a good idea to have this monument of our heroes in their homeland we shall do it when the situation is stable.”