# Salva Kiir Mayardit > President of South Sudan since 2011 **Wikidata**: [Q57315](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57315) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salva_Kiir_Mayardit) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/salva-kiir-mayardit ## Summary Salva Kiir Mayardit was born on September 13, 1951, in Bahr el Ghazal [1][2]. He holds citizenship in both South Sudan and Sudan [3]. His professional background includes roles as a politician, military personnel, and minister [3]. He practices Catholicism .Mayardit has held several high-level government positions, including Vice President of Sudan from 2005 to 2011 and Vice President of South Sudan in 2005 [3][4][5]. He has served as the President of South Sudan from 2011 to the present [3][4][5]. Additionally, he was the Minister of Cabinet Affairs from 2018 to 2019 [3][4][5]. ## Summary Salva Kiir Mayardit is a South Sudanese politician and military leader who has served as the first President of South Sudan since the country's independence in 2011. A key figure in the Second Sudanese Civil War, he played a central role in the movement for South Sudanese independence and later became the nation's founding leader. ## Biography - **Born**: [Date and place not specified in source material] - **Nationality**: South Sudanese - **Education**: [Not specified in source material] - **Known for**: Leading South Sudan to independence and serving as its first president - **Employer(s)**: Government of South Sudan, Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) - **Field(s)**: Politics, military ## Contributions - **Led South Sudan to independence**: Played a pivotal role in the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005), which culminated in the 2011 referendum for South Sudan’s independence from Sudan. - **Signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (2005)**: A critical accord that ended the Second Sudanese Civil War and paved the way for South Sudan’s autonomy. - **Founding President of South Sudan**: Assumed office on July 9, 2011, following the country’s formal independence. ## FAQs - **What is Salva Kiir Mayardit’s most notable achievement?** He is best known for leading South Sudan to independence after decades of civil war and becoming its first president in 2011. - **What role did he play in Sudan’s civil wars?** He was a key military and political leader in the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005), fighting for South Sudanese autonomy. - **What political positions has he held?** He served as President of South Sudan (since 2011) and previously held roles in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A). ## Why They Matter Salva Kiir Mayardit is pivotal to modern South Sudanese history, driving the nation’s independence after decades of conflict. His leadership during the Second Sudanese Civil War and subsequent presidency shaped the trajectory of Africa’s youngest country. Without his role in the peace process and governance, South Sudan’s path to sovereignty and its early nation-building efforts would have been significantly altered. ## Notable For - First President of South Sudan (2011–present). - Military commander in the Second Sudanese Civil War. - Signatory to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. - Leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A). ## Body ### Early Life and Military Career Salva Kiir Mayardit emerged as a prominent military leader during the First Sudanese Civil War (1955–1972) and later the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005). He joined the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), a rebel group fighting for South Sudanese autonomy from Sudan. ### Political Rise and Independence Kiir’s political ascent began with his involvement in the SPLM/A, where he rose through the ranks to become a key negotiator. He played a central role in the **Comprehensive Peace Agreement (2005)**, which ended the Second Sudanese Civil War and established a framework for South Sudan’s independence referendum. After the 2011 referendum overwhelmingly favored secession, Kiir became the first President of the newly independent Republic of South Sudan on July 9, 2011. ### Presidency and Governance As President, Kiir has led South Sudan through its formative years, navigating challenges including economic instability, ethnic tensions, and ongoing conflicts. His tenure has been marked by efforts to consolidate national identity and address the legacies of decades of war. ### Legacy and Challenges Kiir’s legacy is intertwined with South Sudan’s struggle for independence and its subsequent nation-building process. While celebrated for his role in achieving sovereignty, his presidency has also faced criticism for governance issues and unresolved internal conflicts. ### Connected Entities - **South Sudan**: The world’s youngest nation, established in 2011 under Kiir’s leadership. - **Sudan**: The country from which South Sudan seceded after prolonged civil wars. - **Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005)**: The conflict in which Kiir fought and negotiated peace, directly leading to independence. ### Key Affiliations - **Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A)**: The political and military organization Kiir helped lead to secure independence. - **Government of South Sudan**: The national administration he has headed since 2011. ## References 1. Dictionary of African Biography 2. Database of Cabinet Politics in Sub-Sahara Africa 3. [List of Sudan’s national unity government. 2005](https://sudantribune.com/article12332/) 4. Whogov Dataset 5. [Source](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/world/africa/south-sudan-vice-president-arrest-riek-machar.html) 6. Virtual International Authority File 7. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie 8. Munzinger Personen 9. Google Knowledge Graph 10. BBC Things 11. Library of Congress Control Number 12. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line