“President Salva Kiir Mayardit who is also SPLM Chairman left Juba this morning for Wau to address a political rally there,” Kiir’s office said in a statement following the president’s departure from Juba International Airport.
The launch of the campaign is organized by SPLM Governors of Lakes, Warrap, and Northern Bahr el Ghazal States as well as deputy governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal and the chief administrator of Abyei Administrative Area.
The rally is basically organized for the Greater Bahr el Ghazal region – Kiir’s home region – to celebrate the decision by the SPLM National Liberation Council to nominate President Kiir for elections in the December 2024 elections.
Thousands of people have been gathering in Wau, which is considered the capital of Bahr el Ghazal region, waiting for Kiir who was initially set to arrive there on Monday morning.
Speaking to journalists ahead of Kiir’s departure, presidential affairs minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said Kiir’s visit to Wau “will be followed by similar tours to the States in Equatoria and Upper Nile regions to interact with the electorates, and deliver to them a message of hope, peace and unity.”