In brief: Who is South Sudan’s new VP?

James Wani Igga Maring was nominated as vice-president by the president on Friday and approved by the national parliament yesterday. The new deputy president comes from a background of military and political service for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.

James Wani Igga Maring was nominated as vice-president by the president on Friday and approved by the national parliament yesterday. The new deputy president comes from a background of military and political service for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.

1949 – Wani is born in 1949 in Krillo village, Lobonok Payam of western Juba County.

1950s – 1965 – Attends elementary and intermediate schools at Okaru and Tonj.

1972 -1975 – Attends Rumbek Secondary School, and later continues his education at university in Cairo.

1986 – Attends a military training course in Cuba soon after joining SPLA.

1987 – Becomes SPLA Zonal Commander in central Equatoria, and rises into the SPLM/A high command at about the same time.

1994 – Appointed to head a new central finance secretariat after the SPLM/A convention in Chukudum  

2005 – Leads the first SPLM delegation to Juba when the former garrison town is opened to the ex-rebels after the signing of the Naivasha agreement.

2010 – Stands for election to the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly representing Juba North (1) constituency, and wins.

2010-2013 – Serves as speaker of the first elected assembly in South Sudan since the 2005 peace agreement.

2011- Reads out the Declaration of Independence to a huge crowd at the John Garang Mausoleum.

2013 – Approved as vice president of South Sudan one month after the removal of Riek Machar.