List of heads of state of South Sudan

Last updated

President of the
Republic of South Sudan
Seal of South Sudan.svg
Presidential Seal
Flag of the President of South Sudan.svg
Salva Kiir Mayardit at the White House (cropped).jpg
since 9 July 2011
Style His Excellency
Type Head of state
Head of government
Member ofCabinet
Residence State House, Juba
Seat Juba
AppointerDirect popular vote
Term length 4 years [1]
Constituting instrumentTransitional Consistution of South Sudan
PrecursorPresident of the Government of Southern Sudan
Formation9 July 2011
First holder Salva Kiir Mayardit
Deputy Vice President of South Sudan
Salary45,922,800 SSP / 60,000 USD annually [2]
Website www.presidency.gov.ss

This article lists the heads of state of South Sudan since the establishment of the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region within Sudan in 1972.

Contents

The president of the Republic of South Sudan is the head of state and head of government of South Sudan. The president leads the executive branch of the Government of South Sudan and is the commander-in-chief of the South Sudan People's Defence Forces. The official residence of the president is State House, J1.

History of the office

The region of Southern Sudan (currently the independent republic of South Sudan) became autonomous for the first time, within Sudan, in 1972, through the Addis Ababa Agreement meant to end the First Sudanese Civil War, and its local government had five presidents until 1983, when the Sudanese central government revoked the autonomy. Autonomy was gained again in 2005, through the Comprehensive Peace Agreement meant to end the Second Sudanese Civil War, and the position of president of Southern Sudan was restored. Then, on 9 July 2011, South Sudan became independent and a new constitution was adopted. [1]

Term limits

Salva Kiir's term as elected president ended in 2015, but constitutional amendments of 2018 and Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) formed in 2020 extended his mandate until 2023 [3] and later 2024. [4]

Titles of heads of state

Heads of state of South Sudan (1972–present)

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePolitical partyElected
Took officeLeft officeTime in office

Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (1972–1983)

1
Abel Alier.jpg
Abel Alier
(born 1933)
6 April 1972February 19785 years, 9 months SF
2
No image.png
Joseph Lagu
(born 1929)
February 197812 July 19791 year, 5 months SANU
3
No image.png
Peter Gatkuoth
(1938–2010)
12 July 197930 May 1980323 days Independent
(1)
Abel Alier.jpg
Abel Alier
(born 1933)
30 May 19805 October 19811 year, 128 days SF
4
No image.png
Gismalla Abdalla Rassas
(1932–2013)
5 October 198123 June 1982261 days Independent
5
No image.png
Joseph James Tombura
(1929–1992)
23 June 19825 June 1983347 days SANU
Autonomy abolished (5 June 1983 – 9 July 2005)

Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (2005–2011)

6
John Garang of Sudan.jpg
John Garang
(1945–2005)
[lower-alpha 1]
9 July 200530 July 2005 21 days SPLM
Salva Kiir Mayardit at the White House (cropped).jpg
Salva Kiir Mayardit
(born 1951)
Acting
30 July 200511 August 200512 days SPLM
7
Salva Kiir Mayardit at the White House (cropped).jpg
Salva Kiir Mayardit
(born 1951)
11 August 20059 July 20115 years, 332 days SPLM 2010

Republic of South Sudan (2011–present)

(7)
Salva Kiir Mayardit at the White House (cropped).jpg
Salva Kiir Mayardit
(born 1951)
9 July 2011Incumbent13 years, 92 days SPLM

Note: The President of South Sudan was also First Vice President of the Sudanese national government until 9 July 2011.

Timeline

Salva Kiir MayarditJohn GarangJoseph James TomburaGismalla Abdalla RassasPeter GatkuothJoseph LaguAbel AlierList of heads of state of South Sudan

Incoming election

See also

Notes

  1. Died in a crash of the Ugandan Mil Mi-17 presidential helicopter.

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References

  1. 1 2 "South Sudan to adopt new constitution, claims Abyei". af.reuters.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  2. "Kiir, Machar acquire millions as conflict rages in S Sudan - Daily Nation". www.nation.co.ke. 3 July 2020.
  3. Cook, Candace; Siegle, Joseph. "Circumvention of Term Limits Weakens Governance in Africa". Africa Center for Strategic Studies.
  4. "South Sudan again delays its 1st election, until late 2024". AP News. 4 August 2022.