South Sudan president 'apologises for failing to pay civil servants'

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir. The president has 'apologised for failing to pay civil servants.' FILE PHOTO | AFP

Using a speech to mark independence day, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has apologised to civil servants who went without salaries for several months, Juba's Radio Miraya quotes him as saying.

Mr Kiir said the failure to pay the money was "caused by weak governance" in the departments that are supposed to raise funds and pledged to personally get involved in the issue.