The office of South Sudan’s parliamentary speaker on Sunday reaffirmed its commitment to constitutional duties after a ruling party meeting raised concerns about her leadership.
In an unexpected statement issued on the Easter holiday, Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) said she remained committed to implementing the 2018 peace agreement and supporting the country’s transition under President Salva Kiir.
The statement follows a Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) parliamentary caucus meeting on March 31, where lawmakers presented a petition seeking Kumba’s removal.
According to her office, only three preselected MPs were allowed to speak in support of the petition, and no formal debate or vote was conducted. Kumba, a senior member of the SPLM party, was not given an opportunity to respond during the meeting.
“The office has taken note of the concerns raised and stands ready to address these matters through appropriate institutional channels,” the statement said.
It added that the speaker would continue carrying out her constitutional responsibilities “with impartiality and dedication” pending any new directives.
Kumba’s office also called for unity and focus on national priorities, including peace implementation, stability, and preparations for general elections at the end of the transitional period.
On March 31, the SPLM parliamentary caucus said it had voted overwhelmingly to remove Kumba from her position, citing poor management and allegations of corruption. President Kiir, who also serves as SPLM chairman, attended the meeting.
On Thursday, April 4, the TNLA postponed an extraordinary sitting, initially scheduled for that morning, pending the appointment of a new speaker and deputy speaker for administration and finance.
Tulio Odongi Ayahu, SPLM chief whip in the national parliament, told Radio Tamazuj that the adjournment allowed the ruling party to finalize internal consultations on parliamentary leadership. The extraordinary sitting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 7.
It remains unclear whether SPLM leadership will appoint a new speaker or if Kumba will continue in her role despite the petition challenging her leadership.
South Sudan has a bicameral legislature comprising the TNLA as the lower house and the Council of States as the upper chamber. Under the 2018 revitalized peace agreement, the national assembly includes members of opposition parties, with the SPLM holding 332 of 550 seats.
The agreement allocates the position of TNLA speaker to the SPLM, with emphasis on representation from the Equatoria region.