James Wani Igga
James Wani Igga | |
---|---|
Vice President of South Sudan | |
Assumed office 25 August 2013 | |
President | Salva Kiir Mayardit |
Preceded by | Riek Machar |
Speaker of the National Legislative Assembly | |
Assumed office Secretary General of the SPLM | |
Personal details | |
Born | Central Equatoria, South Sudan |
Nationality | South Sudan |
Political party | SPLM |
Alma mater | Cairo |
Military service | |
Allegiance | SPLA (Torit) |
Rank | Zonal Commander |
Commands | Yei |
James Wani Igga is the vice president of South Sudan.[1] He was previously Speaker of the National Legislative Assembly[2] and secretary general of the SPLM.[3]
Early life
Igga is variously described to stem from the Bari[4] and Zande[5] ethnic groups and he is a Roman Catholic. He studied economics in Cairo.[4]
Civil war years
Igga joined the South Sudanese rebels in 1985, training in Cuba and Ethiopia. He rose through the SPLA ranks rapidly,[4] and by 1987 Igga had the rank of Major and commanded the Shakus Battalion.[6] The same year he served as Zonal Commander of Central Equatoria and as a member of the SPLA High Command.[7] Igga was reportedly well-respected among civilians.[8]
Igga was one of the SPLA's most senior representatives during negotiations with SPLA-Nasir. He represented Garang as the head of the SPLA-Torit delegation at peace talks in Nairobi in November 1991.[9] In 1993 Igga accompanied Garang to Nairobi for a peacemaking seminar in June 1993, and to Kampala for an IGAD-mediated dialog with the Nasir faction.[9] Igga had known Lam Akol, one of the Nasir leaders, since their time together in the Cuban training camp .[5]
As chairman of the SPLM Political Affairs Commission, Igga established the Technical Committee of Intellectuals in February 2000. This Committee was tasked with planning the civil administration of Southern Sudan.[10]
Postwar Politics
Following the 2005 signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement establishing the autonomy of Southern Sudan, Igga was in charge transitioning the SPLM from an insurgent strategic leadership to a political party. In addition, Igga was appointed caretaker governor of Upper Nile State for the transition period.[10]
Igga read out the proclamation of independence when the Sudans divided.[4]
President Salva Kiir appointed Igga as vice president on August 23, 2013 to replace Riek Machar, whom he had dismissed a month previously. He will be required to resign as speaker.[11] Igga was unanimously confirmed by the National Assembly on August 26.[12]
References
- ^ "James Wani Igga appointed South Sudan vice-president". BBC News. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ^ "SPLM maintains popularity in the whole country-Igga". Sudan Tribune. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ^ Fisher, Jonah (20 April 2005). "Southern Sudan's frontline town". BBC News. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ^ a b c d "South Sudan president names James Wani Igga as deputy: state radio". AFP. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ^ a b Sesana, Renato Kizito (2006). I am a Nuba. Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa. ISBN 9966081798.
- ^ Wöndu, Steven. From bush to Bush : journey to liberty in South Sudan. Nairobi, Kenya: Kenway Publications. ISBN 9966257942.
- ^ Fardon, Richard (2000). African broadcast cultures : radio in transition. Oxford: Currey [u.a.] ISBN 0275970604.
{{cite book}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Johnson, Douglas H. (2011). The root causes of Sudan's civil wars : peace or truce (Rev. ed. ed.). Woodbridge, Suffolk: James Currey. ISBN 1847010296.
{{cite book}}
:|edition=
has extra text (help) - ^ a b Akol, Lam (2003). SPLM/SPLA : the Nasir Declaration. New York: iUniverse, Inc. ISBN 0595284590.
- ^ a b Deng, Lual A. (2013). Power of creative reasoning : the ideas and vision of john garang. Bloomingdale, IN: iUnivers. ISBN 147596028X.
- ^ "Kiir appoints speaker James Wani Igga as new vice-president". Sudan Tribune. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ^ "S. Sudan lawmakers unanimously endorse Wani Igga as new VP". Sudan Tribune. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.