Puok Both, SPLM-IO Director for Information, also Acting Press Secretary in the Office of the First Vice President - Courtesy

The SPLM-IO is calling on President Salva Kiir to revoke the dismissal of Jonglei State parliamentary speaker, saying the party leadership was not consulted.

The Acting Press Secretary in the Office of the First Vice President said Friday the dismissal of Amer Ateny is a violation of the implementation of the peace agreement.

Puok Both Baluang also described the removal of Amer as unprocedural and could put the peace implementation in jeopardy.

“It’s a violation of the agreement and it’s unprocedural. So, the decision of the revocation of the appointment of the speaker has been recommended from the leadership of the SPLM, SPLA- IO as a party,” Baluang said.

He added that there is a need for the parties to respect and adhere to the spirit of the agreement, in accordance with the power-sharing ratios.

“So this is stipulated in the agreement. The right procedure now is for that decision to be called off and to allow Right Honorable Speaker Amer Ateny to assume her role, as we know the importance of the legislature as the strong arm of the government.”

“This violation may jeopardize the process of the implementation of the peace agreement, there’s a need for the parties to respect and adhere to the spirit of the agreement according to the power-sharing ratios that we have.”

Baluang said it is the leadership of the main opposition party that can recommend the appointment and removal of any SPLM-IO member in the unity government.

The Speaker of the Jonglei State Legislative Assembly Amer Ateny was removed early this week by a presidential decree.

She was appointed as speaker of the Jonglei State Legislative Assembly in the seat of the SPLM – IO in November 2021.

During her time, the state parliament impeached the minister of finance Abraham Yuek last year over the delay of civil servants’ salaries, but the governor Denay Jock Chagor did not fire the minister.