President Salva Kiir greets Vice President for the Economic Cluster, Dr. James Wani Igga, upon his arrival at Juba International Airport on Friday. (Photo: PPU/JUNE 12, 2026)

President Salva Kiir returned to the capital on Friday afternoon following a week-long regional tour of Bahr el Ghazal that combined state security matters, grassroots engagement, and early campaign overtures ahead of the national elections scheduled for December this year.

Upon arrival at Juba International Airport, President Kiir was received by Vice President for the Economic Cluster Dr. James Wani Igga, alongside senior government and security officials.

During the tour, which took him through Wau, Kuajok, and Aweil after departing his hometown of Akon in Gogrial West County, the President addressed several public rallies.

He called on citizens to uphold peace, promote national unity, invest in farming to bolster food security, and prepare for the upcoming democratic transition. The visit saw heavy political mobilization, with thousands of residents lining the streets to welcome the Head of State.

While addressing a public gathering at Aweil Freedom Square, President Kiir commended the peace and stability in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, urging residents to safeguard the calm.

During the event, he pledged to propose renaming the University of Northern Bahr el Ghazal to the University of Aweil to parliament to support local higher education.

Entourage Financial Expectations and Community Donations

The tour exposed internal expectations within the government delegation. President Kiir noted that the journey was initially intended to be a private visit to his home region, expressing surprise at the massive public turnouts.

Speaking in Aweil, the President remarked that several national and state officials who accompanied him had joined the entourage under the assumption that he would distribute cash.

“You have seen now from the government officials who came accompanying me. They all came here thinking I have money and hoping I would come and distribute it to the people here,” Kiir told the crowd.

Despite noting the tight economic realities, the President announced a 500 million South Sudanese Pound donation to be split among various local groups, including cultural performers, artists, youth, and women’s unions.

He thanked the residents for their reception and expressed his intention to return to the region in July when the formal election campaign period is expected to commence.

Civil Society Response and Broader Context

Civil society groups welcomed the direct interaction between the executive and the population but urged the administration to address pressing domestic grievances.

Edmond Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO), praised the grassroots engagement in Wau and called for similar tours to be extended to the Equatoria and Upper Nile regions.

However, Yakani highlighted that many citizens are experiencing economic hardships due to delayed salary payments for civil servants and a rising cost of living. He also expressed concern over ongoing communal violence in parts of the country, which he characterized as politically motivated.

Yakani called on the presidency to issue clear directives to dismantle illegal checkpoints that disrupt trade and inflate commodity prices, and urged the public to use such visits to openly demand better governance and security.

According to the Office of the President, the regional tour focused primarily on security stabilization and economic recovery strategies. The trip coincided with a broader push for stability across the country, as over 3,000 police recruits concurrently began election security training in Juba to prepare for the upcoming December polls.