South Sudan’s parliament held its sitting on Thursday and endorsed Anthony Lino Makana as its new speaker from the SPLM faction led by President Sal Kiir.
Chapter 1, Article 11.1 of the peace deal provides for the expansion of the parliament from 332 members to 400 members, including 50 from SPLM-IO, 1 from SPLM-FD and 17 from other political parties.
Makana, who represents Yambio County, vowed to cooperate with all government organs and political parties in order to move South Sudan forward.
H called on the people of South Sudan to shun ethnicity.”We should work as one tribe in the name of South Sudan. I will not allow someone to use me even if he is from my tribe, unless he is telling the truth “said Makana.
For his part, the outgoing parliamentary speaker Mannase Magok Rundial promised to cooperate with his successor. Magok had to step down in accordance to the peace agreement that required a parliamentary speaker from the Equatoria region.