Kiir fails to show up at climate conference in Egypt despite invitation, top lawmaker to represent him

JUBA – South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir Mayardit has failed to attend the ongoing climate conference in Egypt, despite this year’s invitation by Egyptian President Abdelfattah el Sisi to the high-level meeting that has brought world leaders together.

World leaders are meeting in Egypt’s resort city of Sharm el Sheikh to formulate policies as climate change threatens humanity. But President Kiir who was invited this year has not attended the conference which would have been an opportunity for him to meet other leaders.

Instead, the South Sudanese head of state dispatched the first deputy speaker of the Transitional Parliament, Nathaniel Oyet, to represent the country at the important international event that is discussing policies of facing the climate change.

In a statement, Oyet who is also the deputy chair of the main armed opposition SPLM-IO said he has left along with a delegation heading to Egypt to attend the climate conference where world leaders are meeting on the alarming climate change.

“I departed for [UN climate conference] COP27 in Egypt, Sharm El Sheik. Held against the backdrop of an increasing global warming, industrialized countries should do more to save the planet, cutting greenhouse gas is not an option anymore but a necessity,” he said upon departure.

The top South Sudan member of parliament said “The planet is experiencing more Climate related natural disasters more than any time in history.”