Veteran journalist Alfred Taban says he has retired from journalism after his appointment as a Member of Parliament in the transitional parliament.

Mr. Taban was offered the position last evening by the SPLM in opposition faction under the First Vice President.

He now represents his home town of Kajo-Keji County, Yei River State.

Mr. Taban is the founder and chief of the editor of Juba Monitor, one of the dailies still in circulation after many papers collapsed due to the economic crisis.

He is also the chairperson of Association for Media Development in South Sudan.

“Yes I can confirm that I have been appointed as a Member of Parliament representing my home county of Kajo-Keji on the ticket of IO,” he told Eye Radio this morning.

He says the new career is very important and will help him raise issues affecting his area and the community.

“This parliamentary job is very important. It is actually as a struggle for my people as you know my home county is completely vacant,” he said elatedly.

Kajo-Keji is one of the counties in Yei River State that have been hard-hit by conflict, with civilians displaced to the neighboring Uganda.

“It has been completely destroyed by war and the people have all run a way. So I need to bring some sort of sanity to Kajo-keji by being a member of parliament by raising these issues in Parliament.”

However, Alfred Taban, who is also representing the media fraternity in the national dialogue process, said he will continue as a member of the dialogue steering committee.

Five other MPs have been appointed by the First Vice President Taban Deng Gai to represent his faction in the parliament.