Lodu William Odiya and Yiep Joseph
President Salva Kiir has revoked the appointment of senior SPM-IO members from the National and State Parliaments.
Among those revoked from the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) are close allies to First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, the chairperson of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO).
Kiir made the changes through presidential decrees read out on the state-owned television, South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC).
The president revoked the appointment of Oyet Nathaniel Perino, First Deputy Speaker of the TNLA.
After the arrest of Dr. Machar in March, Nathaniel left Juba for an unknown location and was declared as the Acting Chairperson of the SPLM-IO.
He continues to call for the unconditional release of Dr. Machar and other SPLM-IO members in detention.
In a separate decree the president revoked the appointment of Deng Deng Akoon, the speaker of the Council of State.
The appointment of Faruk Gatkuoth, SPLM-IO chief whip in TNLA, was also revoked.
Other members of parliament from SPLM-IO whose appointments were revoked were Gai Mayen Luke, Regina Joseph, and Daniel Joel, among others.
Kiir also relieved Bech George Anyak, the Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, and replaced him with Yien Chan Ruei.
In Western Equatoria State, President Salva Kiir appointed Justin Joseph Marona as Deputy Governor representing SPLM-IO.
On August 3, 2005, the interim chairman of the main armed opposition, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) Stephen Par Kuol called on the president, Salva Kiir Mayardit to implement the long overdue inclusiveness by appointing the nominees of the SPLM-IO interim leadership.