Salva Kiir Mayardit, President Of South Sudan, Will Not Make World’s Newest Country Safe For Gays

Salva Kiir Mayardit, the vice president of Sudan, is quickly assuming his new role as president of the Republic of South Sudan — the world’s newest country since voters in the African state last month approved a referendum to separate from Sudan and create an autonomous country. So surely with new independence, there will be new freedoms for LGBTs? Hah! Of course not. Reader James R. pointed us to an interview Kiir gave in July, where we see he has no plans to protect queers once South Sudan’s government is firmly in place. Despite promises of democracy and equality, he insists “it is not in our character” to have gays. “[I]t is not there and if anybody wants to import it to Sudan [...] it will always be condemned by everybody.” I guess it’s fitting South Sudan’s southern neighbor is none other than Uganda.