‘Right man in the right place’: Mary Boyoi endorses Kiir for president in 2023 elections

JUBA – South Sudan controversial singer Mary Boyoi has endorsed President Salva Kiir Mayardit for elections slated for end of transitional period in 2023 saying she would “say yes” if asked by the head of state to be a running made.

President Kiir’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party is saying that the country is being prepared for elections provided for in the 2018 revitalized peace deal and none of the senior SPLM leaders is seen as a contender to the president.

In a brief social media post, Boyoi called President Kiir as the “right man in the right place” and vowed to vote for him during the upcoming elections and would also agreement it he is asked to be a running mate.

“Right Man in the right place! I mean H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit and if he wants me to be his vice president in the coming elections, who am I to say no kaman,” the controversial singer said.

It is still unknown if elections are to take place at the end of the transitional period in 2023 as key provisions of the revitalized peace agreement that provides for those elections are yet to be implemented.

Parties are also making conflicting accounts as to if the elections will take place.

While President Kiir has called for elections in 2023 even in the absence of a population census, top opposition leaders including his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar Teny say it was still early to decide.

Machar says elections won’t be safe until when the security arrangements provision is fully implemented and also elections reforms are done.

Vice-President Rebecca Nyandeng has also stated her opposition to elections in 2023 saying that would not be possible until when refugees and IDPs return to their constituencies to participate in the democratic process.