A dispute has emerged within the Bar Association over the replacement of the chairman, Dr William Kon Bior, who died two weeks ago.

The spokesperson of the elections high committee for the association, Peter Mathias, says the election of James Altayib as the new chairperson is illegal.

Mr Mathias says the election, which was conducted on Friday, was done in the absence of a neutral body and the general assembly.

“This election is illegal because the election must be in general assembly, in open voting, according to the constitution of South Sudan Bar Association, 2013,” he argued.

In response, the new chairperson, James Tayib, says he was elected to fill the vacuum after the death of the former chairman.