‘‘I will not return you back to war again. Let us work together to put our country back in the path of development in this new decade.’’

Those were the words of South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit as he signed off his keynote speech in commemoration of the 10^th anniversary of independence.

The president delivered a reassuring speech, recounting the gains of the South Sudanese leadership such as trying to revive the economy and implementing the 2018 peace agreement. However, he said calm had returned to many areas of the country save for certain parts that are still in turmoil.

He signalled the National Salvation Front led by Gen. Thomas Cirilo as one of the holdouts still contributing to instability in some pockets of the country. This coupled with cattle rustling and occasional inter-communal fights have caused insecurity in certain states and must be solved, the president acknowledged.

To achieve total peace, the president said there is an ongoing engagement with the SSOMA leaders in Saint Egidio, Rome, peace which he said promises good fruits.

The Minister of Presidential Affairs, Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin, recently wrote to the conveners of the negotiation to postpone the talks to allow room for the preparation of the independence.

President Kiir’s message comes a day after he warned in an interview with a Kenyan television that he would do anything within his power to ensure that the country does not plunge into the war again.

‘‘There are people who are still bloodthirsty who would like to see people die in South Sudan. I don’t subscribe to that. I think it will not happen,’’ he remarked.

He went on to reassure: ‘‘If South Sudanese accept themselves to stay in peace, in 10 years, South Sudan will be a great country.’’