Nearly a month after the removal of the previous Finance Minister Aggrey Tisa Sabuni, South Sudan still has no parliament-approved finance minister. As yet parliament has announced no plans for when it will vote to approve the minister-designate.

Sabuni, the previous minister, was removed by decree on 12 January 2015. He had held office since 7 August 2013 following the approval of his appointment by parliament.

Constitutionally, the national parliament has the power to approve or reject the president's appointments of cabinet ministers. No appointee becomes a minister unless first approved by a vote of a majority of MPs, according to Article 113 (2) of the Transitional Constitution.

The last time parliament exercised its power to reject an appointment was August 2013, when it rejected President Salva Kiir's appointment of Telar Riing Deng as justice minister.

On 12 January, Kiir designated Sabuni's successor, David Deng Athorbei.

Reportedly, the minister-designate has begun working at the finance ministry since mid-January, and practically is already accorded the status of a working minister.

It is unclear, however, whether he is yet exercising any formal administrative powers and if so whether his decisions have any legal status. Ordinarily, in the absence of a minister, a ministry will be led by an incumbent official such as a deputy minister or under-secretary.

MP Thomas Wani, information committee chairman in the parliament, recently told Radio Tamazuj that parliament has no plans to meet until 6 April, as members remain on leave.

Photo: Finance Minister-designate David Deng Athorbei