Former detainee elected Western Lakes state speaker

April 5, 2016 (RUMBEK) – Authorities in South Sudan’s Western Lakes state have elected Marik Nanga Marik, a formerly detained lawmaker, as the new speaker for the state legislative assembly.

The new speaker shot to fame last year after he was detained by the former Lakes state governor Matur Chut Dhuol for nearly a year.

Marik, whose release from jail followed President Salva Kiir’s intervention, vowed to help fight corruption in Western Lakes state.

“We shall work on conflict resolution management and reconciliation among the community of Western Lakes state. We will improve security and fight corruption so that resources are not misused, work for creation of new counties and disseminate the Local Government Act,” said Marik.

“We will work for unity. We will have outreach program for members of parliament to preach peace and unity from within,” he added.

Lakes state was divided into the three states, comprising of Eastern Lakes state, Gok state and the Western Lakes state by President Kiir.

(ST)