The Parliamentary caucus of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement has voted overwhelmingly to remove Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba, marking the first attempt by the party to unseat a sitting speaker through a vote of no confidence.
Lawmakers said the decision was reached during a caucus meeting in Juba on Tuesday, March 31 and has been communicated to party leader and President Salva Kiir, who is expected to determine the next course of action.
The move comes within the framework of South Sudan’s 2018 revitalised peace agreement, under which the SPLM holds a majority in the 550-member Transitional National Legislative Assembly and retains the right to nominate the speaker, a position reserved for the Equatoria region.
According to lawmakers, the caucus has also submitted a shortlist of five potential replacements for Kiir’s consideration. These include Betty Achan Ogwaro, Tulio Odongi, Josephine Napwon Cosmos, Joseph Ngere Paciko, and Joy Kwaje.
In addition to the speaker’s removal, the caucus recommended the dismissal of the deputy speaker for finance and administration and the deputy clerk, citing concerns over alleged poor management and corruption under Nunu’s leadership.
It remains uncertain whether Kiir will act on the recommendation, as Nunu is widely regarded as a close ally. Appointed in July 2021 and endorsed by parliament on August 2, 2021, she became South Sudan’s first female speaker and has held several senior government and party roles, including ministerial and gubernatorial positions.
