The Pari community in Lafon County of South Sudan’s Torit State has urged the new parliament speaker, Obuch Ojwok Akuo to demonstrate good leadership.

Mr. Ojwok, who hails from the Pari community, was recently endorsed by lawmakers as the new parliament speaker, replacing Anthony Lino Makana who was forced to resign earlier this month after nearly four years on the job.

Speaking to reporters in Torit town on Tuesday, the Pari community chairperson, Otong Luka Wille said the speaker’s position requires strong leadership skills that will take South Sudan to the next level.

“As the Pari community, we are expecting good leadership in this position. The new speaker was entrusted to lead the nation,” he said.

Otong said the community would continue to support President Salva Kiir, but urged him to ensure there is peace and transparency.

“We remind you that the Pari community is behind your government as you are determined to make peace, good governance, transparency, accountability, stability and prosperity real,” he stressed.

Earlier this month, the newly elected speaker Obuch Ojwok Akuo said that he wanted to "restore the reputation" of the parliament. He vowed to work with lawmakers to restore the "parliament’s lost image" by strengthening supervision of the executive arm of government.