Editorial: Deathly Rumors Die as President Kiir Meets Governor Rin and Looks Sharper Than Ever
Governor Rin Tueny Mabor and President Kiir
Thursday, 15 May 2025 (PW) — Social media this morning woke up on the wrong side of reality. Across South Sudan and parts of Kenya, Facebook prophets and WhatsApp witches declared that President Salva Kiir Mayardit had kicked the bucket. Screenshots flew. Hashtags bloomed. Some even posted premature eulogies, complete with Bible verses and blurry photos from 2005.
But by afternoon, those digital prophets of doom were dealt a dazzling blow, not by the presidential spokesperson, but by the President himself, who emerged not only alive but gleaming, clean-shaven, and sharp-suited, ready to conduct official state business like a man who had absolutely not just risen from the grave.
In a display of both life and leadership, President Kiir warmly received Governor Gen. Rin Tueny Mabor of Lakes State, who briefed him on the general security and social situation in the region. According to the Governor, peace continues to hold in Lakes State, a feat that deserves applause in a country where calm is often elusive.
“The situation is stable, the people are committed, and the cows are not complaining,” Rin might have said (okay, maybe not that last part).
The President, in turn, lauded the people of Lakes State for four years of commendable peace and stability. “Keep it up,” Kiir urged, presumably with a smile that said, “rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated and terribly timed.”
The only thing that died today? The credibility of rumormongers. As it turns out, President Kiir is not only alive and kicking but also looking surprisingly refreshed.
Let’s be honest, wishing death upon anyone is more than distasteful; it’s a full-time audition for the coven. You’re not being edgy, you’re just signing up for witchcraft with bad Wi-Fi. Death, in any case, is not some revolutionary tool. It’s a biological certainty. Everyone gets their turn, no RSVP needed. The real challenge isn’t who dies it’s what lessons we never seem to learn.
Take a stroll down memory lane: In 2017, the President had to cruise through Juba waving like a celebrity in a convertible just to prove he hadn’t kicked the calendar. During COVID, he had to show face again because people thought he’d been taken out by the virus and maybe abducted by aliens for good measure.
In 2016, the rumor mill claimed Riek Machar died while escaping Juba. I remember debating that all week, sweating over conspiracy theories hotter than the tea we were sipping. When Machar resurfaced alive, some folks doubled down, insisting that wasn’t him. “Too short,” they said. “Could be a robot.” One guy even swore it was a Chinese-made mannequin with diplomatic clearance.
This isn’t just rumor it’s theatre. National pastime. Forget football; fake funerals are our favorite sport.
But here’s the kicker: even if Kiir had died, would it have sparked a new dawn? Would angels descend with a new constitution in one hand and functioning roads in the other? Probably not. The next guy might be cut from the same cloth or worse, from whatever leftover fabric was lying around.
So maybe, just maybe, let’s retire the death rumors and focus on building something for the living. Because the president, as of this afternoon, is still with us and frankly, never looked more alive.
Long live the Republic. And longer still, may we outlive our bad habits.
If you want to submit an opinion article, commentary, or news analysis, please email it to the editor: info@paanluelwel.com or paanluel2011@gmail.com. PaanLuel Wël Media (PW) website does reserve the right to edit or reject material before publication. Please include your full name, a short biography, email address, city, and the country you are writing from.
About Post Author
