South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
The Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), Jemma Nunu Kumba, has appointed Ambrose Lomin Pitia as the new First Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
The appointment was announced on Thursday during an extraordinary sitting of the Assembly. Pitia, a senior member of the SPLM-IO, replaces Oyet Nathaniel Perino, who was removed from the position by presidential decree in August.
“In exercise of the powers conferred upon me under the Conduct of Business Regulations, and cognisant of the nomination by Ambassador Stephen Par Kuol, interim chairman of the SPLM-IO, and with the approval of His Excellency the President, I, Jemma Nunu Kumba, Speaker of the TNLA, do hereby appoint Honourable Ambrose Lomin Pitia as the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament,” the Clerk of Parliament read during the session.
The order emphasised that the decision followed consultations with President Salva Kiir and was in line with the SPLM-IO’s recommendation.
“This appointment comes after due process and consultations and reflects the unity and continuity of the Assembly’s work,” Kumba said .
Pitia is expected to assume his role immediately, taking over from Oyet, who has been in self-exile since March following the arrest of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar. Oyet now leads a rival faction of the SPLM-IO.
In a separate order, Speaker Kumba also relieved Makuc Makuc Ngong of his duties as Clerk of the Assembly. Ngong was appointed on Wednesday evening as Deputy Chairperson of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission. Santino Majak Deng has been named the new Clerk of the Assembly.
