September 18, 2013 (WAU) - South Sudan's president Kiir has begun a three day trip of the Bahr el Ghazal region attending an occasion of passing out 290 South Sudanese ex-combatants under the national disarmament, demobilization and integration process, in Jur River county.
The event took place in the newly created Mapel payam [district], a strategic area in Jur River county, Western Bahr el Ghazal state.
Kiir was accompanied by the top level military officers and government officials, including General Chief of Staff of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), James Hoth Mai, oil minister Stephen Dhieu Dau, electricity, dams, water resources and irrigation minister, Jemma Nunu Kumba, health minister, Riek Gai Kok and the newly reinstated presidential advisor on legal affairs, Telar Riing Deng.
The president was received at Wau Airport by the governor of both Northern Bahr el Ghazal Paul Malong Awan and his host, governor Rizik Zachariah Hassan.
Kiir is expected to hold a public address at Wau stadium on Thursday morning before leaving for his home village of Akon in Gogrial West County, Warrap State, where he will hold another public address.
Preparations for his reception by Warrap State Governor Nyandeng Malek Deliec are said to have been completed.
It remains unclear whether he would extend the visit to Aweil town, capital of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, where thousands of people have been displaced by floods, or whether he will pass through Rumbek, the capital of Lakes state, on his return trip to Juba.
(ST)