Lawmakers in South Sudan are set to convene on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, to facilitate the installation of new parliamentary leadership, according to an announcement made this Monday, by assembly spokesperson Oliver Mori Benjamin in Juba.
The session aims to replace Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba and her deputy, despite objections from the incumbent. The planned move follows resistance from Kumba, who on Sunday rejected efforts to remove her, arguing that the decision taken during a meeting of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) did not adhere to due process.
She maintained that the process lacked transparency, alleging that only a select group of lawmakers were permitted to support a petition for her removal without proper debate or voting.
The leadership dispute stems from a March 31, 2026, SPLM parliamentary caucus meeting, where members reportedly voted overwhelmingly to oust Kumba, citing concerns over management and allegations of corruption. The meeting was attended by President Salva Kiir, who also leads the party.
Further developments emerged on April 2, 2026, when a directive attributed to Kiir revoked the nomination of both Kumba and Deputy Speaker Permena Awerial Aluong, instructing parliamentary procedures to begin for vacating their positions. However, no formal presidential decree confirming their removal has yet been issued, leaving the process in a contested state.
Despite the uncertainty, several lawmakers indicate that Joseph Ngere Paciko is expected to assume the role of speaker, with Madam Abuk Payiti Ayik likely to serve as deputy speaker. The anticipated changes come against the backdrop of South Sudan’s power-sharing framework under the 2018 peace agreement, with the ruling party maintaining a parliamentary majority.