The President of South Sudan dismisses the Speaker of Parliament and her Deputy

A decree read before Parliament on Tuesday stated that South Sudanese President Salva Kiir dismissed the Speaker of Parliament, Gemma Nuno Kumba, and her Deputy, Permina Oriel Aloong, from their positions.

Tulio Odunji Iyahu, head of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) bloc led by Kiir, announced the decree removing Speaker of Parliament Jemma Nuno and her deputy Permina Oweriel from their positions in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly.

This step came based on a memorandum submitted by members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement bloc last week accusing Kumba of corruption related to mismanagement of parliamentary funds and calling for her removal.

Kumba, who made history in 2021 as the first woman to hold the position of Speaker of the Parliament of South Sudan, did not respond to these allegations.

Kiir appointed Joseph Njeri Pacheco and Abock Baiti Ayek as new president and vice president.

The changes come after Kiir in late February abruptly fired then-Finance Minister Pak Barnabas Chol, who had held the position for only three months, without giving a reason.

Analysts believe that Kiir frequently changes senior political and military positions to maintain his grip on power in light of the lack of clarity regarding his future successor.