Shrewd 33 1

undergraduate
total cholesterolShrewd
Mr Kiir is believed to be 59 but even the SPLM could not confirm his age.
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“Start Quote

If, God forbid, he [Kiir] went, it would open old wounds between people, and there would be too many fierce arguments over who would replace him”

End Quote Agnes Monoja Trader

He first joined the southern rebellion in the late 1960s.

By the time President Jaafar Numeiri made peace with the rebels in 1972, Mr Kiir had become a low-ranking officer. With the accord in place, he joined the Sudanese army.

In 1983 the southern rebellion was renewed and Garang was sent to quell a mutiny by troops in the south - but instead of putting down the mutineers, he joined them.

Mr Kiir was, with Garang, one of the founders of the SPLM, and rose to lead its military wing.

Like Garang, he comes from the Dinka community - the largest ethnic group in the south - although the two are from different clans.

He is also shrewd - he has to be.