South Sudan President Salva Kiir has taken a significant step in reshaping the country’s legislative landscape by dismissing the speaker and deputy speaker of the nation’s parliament. The decree, issued on Tuesday, was reported by Reuters and marks a notable change in the leadership of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA).
The former speaker, Jemma Nunu Kumba, has been a member of President Kiir’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party and a steadfast ally. Her tenure as the first woman to preside over South Sudan’s parliament began in 2021. Kumba’s dismissal, along with that of her deputy, Permena Awerial Aluong, follows a petition filed by SPLM parliamentary caucus members last week. The petition stemmed from concerns over Kumba’s leadership, with several members of parliament accusing her of corruption related to the alleged mismanagement of parliamentary funds.
Despite the controversy, Kumba had expressed her commitment to the nation’s constitution and the revitalized peace agreement on the resolution of the conflict in South Sudan. In a statement two days before her firing, she reassured that the Office of the Speaker was ready to address the raised concerns through institutional channels.
In a move to replace the outgoing leadership, President Kiir appointed Joseph Ngere Paciko as the new speaker and Abuk Paiti Ayiik as the deputy speaker. This recent change in the TNLA’s leadership comes on the heels of President Kiir’s abrupt dismissal of the Finance Minister, Bak Barnaba Chol, in late February. Chol’s departure, which occurred after just three months in office, has also raised questions about the stability and direction of the government’s fiscal policies.
Source: Africanews
