Many see Mabior Garang return to Juba as “if you can’t beat them, join them”, others say “you need to be inside to effect changes”

Mabior Garang de Mabior, a former supporter of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, came to Juba on Friday to see President Salva Kiir.

Many regard his coming to join the Kiir administration as “if you can’t beat them, join them”, while others feel that if you really want to effect a genuine change in any government, it is best to do so from inside.

As many observers have correctly pointed out, pitching a tent with the president is a wonderful privilege and a new phase in his political life.

Working with Kiir may be difficult, but many feel that for the captain’s move to be beneficial, he must work closely with the president.

Mabior Garang has been critical of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny since last year, claiming that the powerful opposition leader had surrendered to President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s government at the expense of implementing the security arrangements outlined in the 2018 revitalized peace agreement signed with President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s government and several rebel groups.

However, Mabior’s abrupt return to Juba on Saturday at the invitation of President Salva Kiir Mayardit sparked criticisms he had misled the opposition public by saying he would not return to South Sudan’s capital Juba without the full implementation of the revitalized peace agreement, which would have seen the reunification of the country’s rival forces to form a professional national army.

Following Mabior’s arrival at Juba International Airport from Nairobi, the South Sudan presidency stated that the son of SPLM/SPLA founder Dr. John Garang De Mabior “was in Nairobi Kenya because of political reasons [and] returned to the Country today upon an invitation of President Salva Kiir Mayardit for him to return home.”

Monday, November 1, 2021- Kiir greeted and met with Mabior Garang De Mabior, the son of a fallen hero Dr John Garang de Mabior, and his entourage.

During the meeting, Mabior Garang De Mabior conveyed his profound thanks to H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit for the invitation to return home.

Furthermore, Mabior Garang De Mabior apologized to the president and the people of South Sudan for whatever statements he may have made in the media against Kiir and the Nation.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Hon Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon Deng Dau, and the Commander of Presidential Guard (Tiger Division), Major-General Lual Wek Guem.

Mabior Garang De Mabior told the reporters after the meeting that he would work with the South Sudanese government and people to find methods to contribute to the nation’s peace and stability.