Here in this article, we discussed the history of office of the presidents of south Sudan and further list the presidents and their term limits in office.
The president of the Republic of South Sudan is the head of state and head of government of South Sudan. The president leads the executive branch of the Government of South Sudan and is the commander-in-chief of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces. The official residence of the president is State House, J1.
Read: POLITICAL HISTORY OF SOUTH SUDAN
HISTORY OF THE OFFICE
The region of Southern Sudan (currently the independent republic of South Sudan) became autonomous for the first time, within Sudan, in 1972, through the Addis Ababa Agreement meant to end the First Sudanese Civil War, and its local government had five presidents until 1983, when the Sudanese central government revoked the autonomy. Autonomy was gained again in 2005, through the Comprehensive Peace Agreement meant to end the Second Sudanese Civil War, and the position of president of Southern Sudan was restored. Then, on 9 July 2011, South Sudan became independent and a new constitution was adopted.
TERM LIMITS
Salva Kiir’s term as elected president ended in 2015, but constitutional amendments of 2018 and Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) formed in 2020 extended his mandate until 2023.
TITLES OF HEADS OF STATE
1972–1983: President of the High Executive Council
2005–2011: President of the Government
2011–present: President
HEADS OF STATE OF SOUTH SUDAN (1972–PRESENT)
| No. | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Political party | Elected | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
| 1 | Abel Alier (born 1933) |
6 April 1972 | February 1978 | 5 years, 301 days | SF | – |
| 2 | Joseph Lagu (born 1931) |
February 1978 | 12 July 1979 | 1 year, 161 days | SANU | – |
| 3 | Peter Gatkuoth (1938–2010) |
12 July 1979 | 30 May 1980 | 323 days | Independent | – |
| (1) | Abel Alier (born 1933) |
30 May 1980 | 5 October 1981 | 1 year, 128 days | SF | – |
| 4 | Gismalla Abdalla Rassas (1932–2013) |
5 October 1981 | 23 June 1982 | 261 days | Independent | – |
| 5 | Joseph James Tombura (1929–1992) |
23 June 1982 | 5 June 1983 | 347 days | SANU | – |
| 6 | John Garang (1945–2005) |
9 July 2005 | 30 July 2005 † | 21 days | SPLM | – |
| – | Salva Kiir Mayardit (born 1951) Acting |
30 July 2005 | 11 August 2005 | 49 days | SPLM | – |
| 7 | Salva Kiir Mayardit (born 1951) |
11 August 2005 | 9 July 2011 | 5 years, 332 days | SPLM | 2010 |
| (7) | Salva Kiir Mayardit (born 1951) |
9 July 2011 | Incumbent | 12 years, 8 days | SPLM | – |