JUBA – In a decree aired on SSBC, President Salva Kiir appointed his daughter, Adut Salva Kiir, as Senior Presidential Envoy on Special Programmes – a position left vacant since February after Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel was meteorically elevated to the position of Vice President for the Economic Cluster.
Little is known about Adut’s political career and she rarely appears in the political spotlight, just like many of her siblings. However, the president’s eldest daughter is notable for her philanthropic work through her foundation, ‘A.S.K.’ which focuses on providing clothing, food, and water.
The A.S.K. Foundation refers to itselft as a community-based charity whose mission is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves support, and it takes courage to ask for help.
Adut is seen by some as a potential voice for reform and national cohesion in South Sudan, given her perceived trust from both her father and the public.
On the other hand, her personal life has also garnered public attention. She is married to Ethiopian national Nardes Gebeyehu Alemneh, a union that was initially met with some public disapproval in South Sudan. She has since divorced Alemneh.