Kiir in Kapoeta in “show of loyalty”

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Kiir in Kapoeta in “show of loyalty”
Hellen Achayo | April 21, 2017 | 8:14 am
President Salva Kiir greets community leaders on arrival in Kapoeta
town on Thursday. Photo: TRC

President Salva Kiir arrived in Kapoeta town on Tuesday afternoon in
his first visit to the state since 2013.

He was received by crowds of traditional dancers, community members
and state government officials.

Many shops were closed and movement limited as people prepared to go
to the town square, where a rally was scheduled.

Presidential Press Secretary, Ateny Wek Ateny, said the visit is part
of the President’s tour of the states, which began with Yei River in
February.

He says the president has gone to the area to thank the people for the
cooperation in maintaining peace.

“First of all the president is coming here to say thank you to the
people of Kapoeta and thank you particularly to the government of
Kapoeta. And also the president is coming to show to the people of
Kapoeta their loyalty to the government since the liberation
struggle,” Mr Ateny told Eye Radio.

“And particularly after the 2013 crisis in which the people of Kapoeta
stood firm in support of the president and the government of the
Republic of South Sudan,” he said.

The visit comes just more than a month after a similar visit to Yei River State.

Mr Ateny said this is part of a wider schedule of tours to the states.

“It is part of the presidential schedule to visit all the states and
particularly the most troubled states,” he said.
“Kapoeta not being one of them because it is not troubled. This is a
very peaceful state. But the president is coming here to say thank you
to the people of Kapoeta,” Ateny added.

After Kapoeta, Ateny said, the next state the president will visit is
Wau, but details of the visit are not clear as yet.