South Sudan’s Equatorians begin race for parliament speaker
May 5, 2016 (JUBA) – A race to elect a speaker of the transitional national legislative assembly from Equatorian politicians has begun in the South Sudan’s capital, Juba, with names being sent to President Salva Kiir.
Chairman of the Equatoria caucus in the national parliament said he expected Equatorians from all the political parties to sit together to elect the speaker regardless of political affiliations.
Thomas Wani Kundu told Sudan Tribune that the political affiliation of the nominee does not matter as long as the person is from the Equatoria region.
“We need to sit together so that we can get one person… as long as he is from Equatoria,” Kundu said.
The peace agreement signed in August 2015 by President Kiir and opposition’s leader, Riek Machar, has given the position of speaker of national parliament to Equatorians to nominate it.
Kundu said the SPLM in Opposition (SPLM-IO) is also expected to present a nominee for the position.
One of the competitors in the Equatorian race for national parliamentary speaker said integrity should be a precondition for selecting the speaker.
Speaking to Bakhita Radio “Wake up Juba” programme, Luka Tombekana Monoja said the candidate to the position should be elected based on merit.
Tombekana urges the competitors to demonstrate pride to the public, saying the citizens have lost hope in both the government and the opposition.
“What we need to see now is restoring the hope of the citizens and stabilizing the economy otherwise our dream is doomed” Tombekana remarked.
The parties to the agreement have not however agreed on the mode of electing the speaker.
(ST)