President Salva Kiir has said he turned down an alleged offer of more than 500 million US dollars from former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir ahead of South Sudan’s 2011 independence referendum.

South Sudan officially became independent from Sudan on 9 July 2011 following the referendum held under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

The President said the alleged offer was made during high-level regional consultations involving several leaders aimed at influencing the outcome of the referendum.

“The mistake would have taken place during the referendum time, when President Salva Kiir didn’t want the referendum at the last minute,” Kiir said.

He added that he was aware Southerners would vote for separation.

“He knew Southerners would vote for separation,” he said.

Kiir said he engaged several regional leaders, including Egypt’s former President Hosni Mubarak and Libya’s late leader Muammar Gaddafi, during the period.

“When they asked me, they gave me 505 million dollars. If we accepted, our country would not come out,” he said.

“No one praises themselves, but I will praise myself for that I didn’t accept that money, because if I had accepted it, I would have swallowed the country, and it would not be out,” he added.

The remarks were made during the 43rd anniversary celebration of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in Juba.

South Sudan voted overwhelmingly for secession in the 2011 referendum, ending decades of conflict with Sudan.