Kiir reconstitutes Unity state parliament, names speaker, deputy  

JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday night reconstituted the state transitional legislative assembly for the oil-rich Unity state, making yet another progress in the completion of chapter one of the revitalized peace deal.

In a presidential decree read out on the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), the South Sudanese head of state named Laijiel Ngiel Bangot of South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) as the speaker deputized by John Gatluak of the SPLM-IG.

This brings the number of state with reconstituted transitional legislative assembly to nine.

Kiir has reconstituted legislative assembly for Western Equatoria, Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Lakes, Warrap, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile, and Jonglei states.

The remaining state is Western Bahr el Ghazal state where there are reports of disagreements among members of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit over nomination process.

Kiir is also yet to reconstituted parliaments for the three administrative areas of Abyei, Ruweng, and Pibor Administrative Area.

According to the revitalized peace deal, the responsibility sharing ratio at state and local government levels shall be 55% for the SPLM; 27% for the SPLM/A-IO; 10% for SSOA, and 8% for OPP.

But based on recent state parliamentary appointments, the Other Political Parties or (OPP) hasn’t been represented as provided for in the revitalized peace agreement.