Who is James Wani Igga?
August 25, 2013 (JUBA) – He was appointed the vice president of South Sudan a few days back, received overwhelming approval from lawmakers, many of whom will miss his long stint as their speaker.
Born in 1949, in a village called Krillo, Juba County, attended elementary studies at Kaperto Bush School in 1959 and later Okaru between 1962 and1965. His studies in Okaru were disrupted by the civil unrest in his area.
Thereafter, he moved to Tonj intermediate school, in the present day Warrap State, where he continued with elementary education until he joined Rumbek senior secondary between 1972 and 1975.
Igga was one of the first South Sudanese who were accorded scholarship to study at various public and private universities in Egypt after the signing of the 1972 Addis Ababa agreement, which ended the first civil war between north and south Sudan that lasted for 17 years. He attended Cairo University of Economics and was part of the groups that formed the Juwama Africa Patriotic Organization (JAPO), becoming its chairperson.
JOINING SPLM
The new South Sudan vice president joined the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in 1985, instead of returning to Khartoum after finishing studies in Cairo, Egypt.
He was recommended and commissioned to the rank of captain upon joining the movement and was one of the commanders selected by the leadership of the rebel movement under the commander of late John Garang de Mabior to attend a Division Commanders’ course in Cuba, in 1986.
Igga later rose to become major after completing commanders training course following his returned to the SPLA liberated and controlled areas.
ACTIVE ROLES
He commanded Shakus (hammer) battalion in 1987, becoming the zonal commander for Central Equatoria and became the member of SPLA command. Igga was one of the respected leaders by civilian population in the Equatoria Region, pulling him closer to the late John Garang.
He was one of the senior rebel commanders and representatives at the peace talks in Nairobi, Kenya with the SPLA-Nasir faction after the split in 1991. He remained with SPLA-Torit faction after the split. He later became the head of its delegation in November 1991 to dialogue peaceful settlement.
In addition, Igga was also part of the delegation which accompanied late Garang for a roundtable discussion about peace held in the Ugandan capital Kampala in 1993, mediated by Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). He helped the movement recruit from the Equatoria region, after launching a mobilization campaign articulating the vision, objective and mission of the rebel group.
Igga was one of the top rebel officials appointed as Caretaker governors and posted to Upper Nile State in 2005 after late John Garang became the first vice president in Sudan and president of Southern Sudan. He became the first speaker of the Southern Sudan Legislative during the interim period, a position he held until South Sudan became an independent following the successful 2011 referendum.
IGGA THE AUTHOR
Meanwhile, Igga is the author of four books, namely; Rediscovering Our Roots, Fundamental of SPLM Political Work and Orientation, 2001, Basic Concept for SPLM Political enlightenment, 2001 and Battle Fought and the Secrecy of Diplomacy.
A Roman Catholic, Igga is married and has children.
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