James Wani Igga | |
---|---|
Second Vice President of South Sudan | |
Assumed office 21 February 2020 [1] | |
President | Salva Kiir Mayardit |
Preceded by | Position established |
2nd Vice President of South Sudan | |
In office 25 August 2013 – 21 February 2020 [1] | |
President | Salva Kiir Mayardit |
Preceded by | Riek Machar |
Succeeded by | Position abolished |
Speaker of the National Legislative Assembly | |
In office 2011 – August 2013 | |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Manasseh Magok Rundial |
Secretary General of the SPLM | |
Personal details | |
Born | 1949 (age 74–75) Krillo, [2] Juba County, Central Equatoria, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (now South Sudan) |
Nationality | South Sudanese |
Political party | SPLM |
Residence(s) | Lobonok, Central Equatoria |
Alma mater | Cairo |
Military service | |
Allegiance | SPLA (Torit) |
Rank | Zonal Commander |
Commands | Yei |
James Wani Igga (born 1949) is a South Sudanese who was the second vice president of South Sudan. [3] He was speaker of the National Legislative Assembly from 2011 to 2013 [4] and secretary general of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. [5]
Igga was born in 1949. [6] He is variously described to stem from the Bari [7] and Zande [8] ethnic groups and he is a Roman Catholic. He studied economics in Cairo. [7]
Igga joined the South Sudanese rebels in 1985, training in Cuba and Ethiopia. He rose rapidly through the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) ranks, [7] and, by 1987, had the rank of major and commanded the Shakus Battalion. [9] The same year, he was Zonal Commander of Central Equatoria and a member of the SPLA/M High Command. [10] He was reportedly well-respected among civilians. [11]
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. In 1993, he accompanied Garang to Nairobi for a peacemaking seminar in June and to Kampala for an IGAD-mediated dialogue with the Nasir faction. [12] Igga had known Lam Akol, one of the Nasir leaders, since their time together in the Cuban training camp. [8]
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. [13]
Following the 2005 signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement establishing the autonomy of Southern Sudan, Igga was in charge of changing the SPLM from an insurgent strategic leadership to a political party. He was chosen as the speaker of Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly in 2005, [14] and he continued in that office until independence in 2011. In addition, he was appointed caretaker governor of Upper Nile State for the transitional period. [13]
Igga read out the proclamation of independence when the two Sudan's divided. [7] He continued as the legislative speaker of the lower house from 2011 to 2013. [15]
President Salva Kiir appointed Igga as vice president on 23 August 2013 to replace Riek Machar, who he had dismissed a month previously. He was required to resign as speaker. [16] Igga was unanimously confirmed by the National Assembly on 26 August. [17]
On 30 May 2020, Igga tested positive for COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Sudan. [18]
On 19 August 2020, six of Igga's bodyguards were killed in a road ambush by National Salvation Front rebels in Igga's hometown of Lobonok. He was not with those bodyguards at the time. [19]
James Wani Igga | |
---|---|
Second Vice President of South Sudan | |
Assumed office 21 February 2020 [1] | |
President | Salva Kiir Mayardit |
Preceded by | Position established |
2nd Vice President of South Sudan | |
In office 25 August 2013 – 21 February 2020 [1] | |
President | Salva Kiir Mayardit |
Preceded by | Riek Machar |
Succeeded by | Position abolished |
Speaker of the National Legislative Assembly | |
In office 2011 – August 2013 | |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Manasseh Magok Rundial |
Secretary General of the SPLM | |
Personal details | |
Born | 1949 (age 74–75) Krillo, [2] Juba County, Central Equatoria, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (now South Sudan) |
Nationality | South Sudanese |
Political party | SPLM |
Residence(s) | Lobonok, Central Equatoria |
Alma mater | Cairo |
Military service | |
Allegiance | SPLA (Torit) |
Rank | Zonal Commander |
Commands | Yei |
James Wani Igga (born 1949) is a South Sudanese who was the second vice president of South Sudan. [3] He was speaker of the National Legislative Assembly from 2011 to 2013 [4] and secretary general of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. [5]
Igga was born in 1949. [6] He is variously described to stem from the Bari [7] and Zande [8] ethnic groups and he is a Roman Catholic. He studied economics in Cairo. [7]
Igga joined the South Sudanese rebels in 1985, training in Cuba and Ethiopia. He rose rapidly through the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) ranks, [7] and, by 1987, had the rank of major and commanded the Shakus Battalion. [9] The same year, he was Zonal Commander of Central Equatoria and a member of the SPLA/M High Command. [10] He was reportedly well-respected among civilians. [11]
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. In 1993, he accompanied Garang to Nairobi for a peacemaking seminar in June and to Kampala for an IGAD-mediated dialogue with the Nasir faction. [12] Igga had known Lam Akol, one of the Nasir leaders, since their time together in the Cuban training camp. [8]
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. [13]
Following the 2005 signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement establishing the autonomy of Southern Sudan, Igga was in charge of changing the SPLM from an insurgent strategic leadership to a political party. He was chosen as the speaker of Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly in 2005, [14] and he continued in that office until independence in 2011. In addition, he was appointed caretaker governor of Upper Nile State for the transitional period. [13]
Igga read out the proclamation of independence when the two Sudan's divided. [7] He continued as the legislative speaker of the lower house from 2011 to 2013. [15]
President Salva Kiir appointed Igga as vice president on 23 August 2013 to replace Riek Machar, who he had dismissed a month previously. He was required to resign as speaker. [16] Igga was unanimously confirmed by the National Assembly on 26 August. [17]
On 30 May 2020, Igga tested positive for COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Sudan. [18]
On 19 August 2020, six of Igga's bodyguards were killed in a road ambush by National Salvation Front rebels in Igga's hometown of Lobonok. He was not with those bodyguards at the time. [19]