South Sudan’s Kiir Visits Graves and Mosques in Abu Dhabi
President Salva Kiir, Nhial Deng Nhial, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, Thomas Duoth Guest. Deng Deng and Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation of Abu Dhabi touring a mosque during his visit to UAE, April 2019(Photo: file)
April 25th, 2019(SSNN) — South Sudan’s president, General Salva Kiir Mayardit, paid a courtesy visit and held a moment of silence to late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan during his recent official visit to the United Arab Emirates.
The visit to the mausoleum of late Sheikh is considered to be a wise decision to promote culture of tolerance, peaceful co-existence and forgiveness; a spiritual retreat held close or similar to his recent visit to the Vatican to see the Pope of the Catholic Church and the head of the Holy See.
While in Abu Dhabi, president Kiir also visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, SZGM. He was accompanied by Dr. Yousif Al Obaidli, Director-General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, SZGM.
Dr. Yousif gave his guests a sensasional lecture on the history and architectural designs that form the components of the Mosque.
At the end of his visit, the war-made self-styled president received a copy of one of the Centre’s distinctive publications, “the Spaces of Lights”, a book that showcases winning photographs in “Spaces of Light” competition, an event that is annually organized by scenic aesthetics and visual culture of the mosque. President Kiir was almost given a book about places of worship in the Islamic history.
Although majority of South Sudanese citizens are christians, these visits could open new doors to Islamic religion in the world’s youngest nation.
According to Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life report of December 2012, South Sudan had an estimated 610,000 Muslims in 2010, comprising 6.2% of the country’s population. The same report estimated Christianity at 60.5% and traditional African religion at 32.9%.
Although baptised as Catholic, president Kiir is spirituality diverse. He prays in a mixed of Christians and Muslims as he attempts to end a six-year old conflict and heals the wounds.
The presidency of South Sudan alleged that these spiritual retreats have emboldened president Kiir to form a new government by May 12th, 2019 in his highly militarized capital despite protests from the oppositions.
During his tour, President Kiir was accompanied by Nhial Deng Nhial, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of South Sudan; Deng Deng Nhial, Ambassador of the Republic of South Sudan in the UAE; Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, Minister of Petroleum, and Thomas Duoth Guet, Director General of External Security, and toured by Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director-General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality in Dubai among other officials.
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