South Sudan’s President Kiir dismisses parliament Speaker, deputy amid corruption allegations

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir. (Photo: X/South Sudan Government)

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit has dismissed Jemma Nunu Kumba as Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) and Parmena Awerial Aluong as second Deputy Speaker.

The announcements were made in Parliament on Tuesday by Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Chief Whip Tulio Odongi, according to Radio Tamazuj.

The dismissals followed accusations by ruling party members that Kumba had engaged in mismanagement and corruption.

Joseph Ngere Paciko has been appointed the new speaker, while Abuk Payiti Ayik assumes the role of deputy speaker for finance and administration.

Under the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement, the speaker’s position is reserved for the SPLM and must be held by someone from the Equatoria region. Ngere, representing Mundri West in Western Equatoria, meets this requirement.

Nunu, the first woman to serve as South Sudan’s speaker since 2021 and a senior SPLM figure, has not yet been assigned a new role.

The move comes just a month after President Kiir dismissed the country’s finance minister in February, only three months into the role. This marked the ninth such change since 2020, underscoring South Sudan’s ongoing leadership instability.

Dr Bak Barnaba Chol was replaced by Salvatore Garang Mabiordit, who previously held the finance portfolio from March 2018 to September 2020 and briefly again in 2023.

The reshuffle also saw Monica Achol Abdel Aguek removed as presidential envoy for Middle East affairs, alongside several senior officials at the revenue authority. The changes aim to strengthen revenue collection and stabilise key financial offices.

According to South Sudan policy analyst Boboya James Edimond, the reshuffles “highlight persistent weaknesses in the country’s economic management.”

In a February interview, Edimond warned that simply swapping officials would not address South Sudan’s structural problems.

He noted ongoing revenue shortfalls and the government’s struggle to meet basic obligations, including salary payments.

“The government has no money right now,” he said, suggesting the frequent personnel changes reflect a scramble for funds rather than genuine reform.

He added that the country’s deeper challenges stem from entrenched corruption, limited accountability, and weak public finance management.

Source: https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/south-sudan/328159/south-sudans-president-kiir-dismisses-parliament-speaker-deputy-amid-corruption-allegations