Dr. Anne Itto Leonardo. (Photo: Courtesy).

President Salva Kiir has nominated Dr. Anne Itto Leonardo as the country’s candidate for the speaker-ship of the East African Parliament.

Dr. Itto was previously the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, as well as the acting secretary-general of the SPLM party.

In a letter to the East Africa Community, Presidential Affairs Minister Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin requested the regional bloc to give the position to South Sudan.

Currently, Burundi and DR Congo, along with South Sudan are eligible for the speakership position.

However, Minister Marial asked the regional parliament to acknowledge article 6 of the EAC treaty, which calls for equitable distribution of benefits.

Marial argues that Burundi currently heads the East Africa Court of Justice, the Summit of Heads of State of the EAC as well as the regional Council of Ministers.

The minister appealed for Burundi to step down for South Sudan, which he says has not benefited in terms of employment in the region.

South Sudan became the sixth member of the East African Community in April 2016.

The decision to join the EAC is seen as an important step for the country to develop its trade strategy.