James Wani Igga

James Wani Igga
2nd Vice President of South Sudan
Assumed office
26 April 2016
President Salva Kiir Mayardit
Vice President of South Sudan
In office
25 August 2013 – 26 April 2016
President Salva Kiir Mayardit
Preceded by Riek Machar
Succeeded by Riek Machar
Speaker of the National Legislative Assembly
Assumed office
Secretary General of the SPLM
Personal details
Born 1949 (age 66–67)
Krillo,[1] Juba County, Central Equatoria, South Sudan
Nationality South Sudan
Political party SPLM
Alma mater Cairo
Religion Roman Catholic
Military service
Allegiance SPLA (Torit)
Rank Zonal Commander
Commands Yei

James Wani Igga (born 1949) is the first and current 2nd Vice President of South Sudan.[2] He was previously Speaker of the National Legislative Assembly[3] and secretary general of the SPLM.[4]

Early life

Igga is variously described to stem from the Bari[5] and Zande[6] ethnic groups and he is a Roman Catholic. He studied economics in Cairo.[5]

Civil war years

Igga joined the South Sudanese rebels in 1985, training in Cuba and Ethiopia. He rose through the SPLA ranks rapidly,[5] and by 1987 Igga had the rank of Major and commanded the Shakus Battalion.[7] The same year he served as Zonal Commander of Central Equatoria and as a member of the SPLA High Command.[8] Igga was reportedly well-respected among civilians.[9]

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.[10] In 1993 Igga accompanied Garang to Nairobi for a peacemaking seminar in June 1993, and to Kampala for an IGAD-mediated dialog with the Nasir faction.[10] Igga had known Lam Akol, one of the Nasir leaders, since their time together in the Cuban training camp .[6]

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.[11]

Postwar Politics

Following the 2005 signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement establishing the autonomy of Southern Sudan, Igga was in charge transitioning the SPLM from an insurgent strategic leadership to a political party. In addition, Igga was appointed caretaker governor of Upper Nile State for the transition period.[11]

Igga read out the proclamation of independence when the Sudans divided.[5]

President Salva Kiir appointed Igga as vice president on 23 August 2013 to replace Riek Machar, whom he had dismissed a month previously. He will be required to resign as speaker.[12] Igga was unanimously confirmed by the National Assembly on 26 August.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Who is James Wanni Igga?". Sudan Tribune. August 25, 2013.
  2. ↑ "James Wani Igga appointed South Sudan vice-president". BBC News. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "SPLM maintains popularity in the whole country-Igga". Sudan Tribune. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  4. ↑ Fisher, Jonah (20 April 2005). "Southern Sudan's frontline town". BBC News. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "South Sudan president names James Wani Igga as deputy: state radio". AFP. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  6. 1 2 Sesana, Renato Kizito (2006). I am a Nuba. Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa. ISBN 9966081798.
  7. ↑ Wöndu, Steven. From bush to Bush : journey to liberty in South Sudan. Nairobi, Kenya: Kenway Publications. ISBN 9966257942.
  8. ↑ Fardon, Richard; Furniss, Graham (2000). African broadcast cultures : radio in transition. Oxford: Currey [u.a.] ISBN 0275970604.
  9. ↑ Johnson, Douglas H. (2011). The root causes of Sudan's civil wars : peace or truce (Rev. ed.). Woodbridge, Suffolk: James Currey. ISBN 1847010296.
  10. 1 2 Akol, Lam (2003). SPLM/SPLA : the Nasir Declaration. New York: iUniverse, Inc. ISBN 0595284590.
  11. 1 2 Deng, Lual A. (2013). Power of creative reasoning : the ideas and vision of john garang. Bloomingdale, IN: iUnivers. ISBN 147596028X.
  12. ↑ "Kiir appoints speaker James Wani Igga as new vice-president". Sudan Tribune. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  13. ↑ "S. Sudan lawmakers unanimously endorse Wani Igga as new VP". Sudan Tribune. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.


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