'He's Garang's true successor'

2005-08-11 17:48

Khartoum - Salva Kiir, who steps out of the shadows of John Garang as southern Sudan's leader to try to secure the future of a precarious peace in Africa's largest country, is a military commander with limited political experience.

Kiir has to fill the shoes of Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) leader.

Kiir's relatively low-key return to Khartoum after an absence of more than 22 years contrasted with the rousing welcome given to Garang by a crowd of over one million people that showed up at the city's main square last month.

The reclusive Kiir, Garang's long-time deputy and a member of the same Dinka tribe, had a much publicised falling-out with the rebel leader last year said to have been patched up in time for the January 9 peace deal.

The peace accord

But diplomats are hoping Kiir has the ability to bolster the peace accord.

"I see him as somebody who has respect of all commanders and also respect from the people in Khartoum because he is a strong commander," said United Nations special envoy for Sudan Jan Pronk. "He is a true successor of Garang."

Kiir, 54, has to find the balance between forging a strong alliance with the SPLM's new allies in Khartoum and appeasing demands of many southerners for full secession.

He will also have to rebuild north-south trust damaged by Garang's death after intercommunal rioting left 130 dead amid unsubstantiated accusations that the helicopter crash was not an accident.

Mixed feelings

Kiir became Garang's deputy in 1987, commanding military operations while Garang shuttled around the world to seek support for the war. Kiir is the only surviving founder member of the SPLM.

Accounts differ over the reasons for the split between Garang and Kiir, with some insiders saying Kiir wanted to use his close association with the SPLA fighters to depose Garang.

Kiir was reportedly unhappy with Garang's lack of consultation in the negotiations process and also with the decision to accept the six year interim period instead of outright, immediate secession.

Unlike Garang, who earned admiration for his charm and elegant oratory, the less effusive Kiir has spent most of his life inside Sudan and has no established contacts across the world like his late predecessor.

Sudan expert Marc Lavergne was sceptical on Kiir's appointment and highlighted the destabilising effect of Garang's death on an already fragile peace process.

"Salva Kiir has a military background and is a poor orator, ill-prepared to take the position",; he said.

"It doesn't matter whether or not Garang died in a helicopter accident, everybody in the south is convinced that it was an assassination," said Lavergne.

Other observers are more optimistic.

"It's true he is a military man but he was one of Garang's closest aides and has no alternative to continuing the struggle for a new Sudan," said Khartoum-based lawyer and human rights activist Suleiman Ghazi.

- AFP