BREAKING | Kiir revokes appointment of Peter Mayen, OPP members to parliament

JUBA — South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit has revoked the appointment of opposition leader Peter Mayen Majongdit as a lawmaker representing the Other Political Parties (OPP) along with all the OPP members in parliament.

This comes after disagreements emerged within the opposition umbrella over nomination by Mayen of himself and a number of his family sparking outrage among senior members of the Other Political Parties.

The decree read out on the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) did not cite any reason for the removal which comes just days before President Salva Kiir swear in the lawmakers.

Mayen, a controversial politician, is the South Sudan’s minister of humanitarian affairs who was appointed in March last year to represent the Other Political Parties as provided for in the revitalized peace agreement.

He sparked controversy early this year after shooting in the air during a women football game in Aweil to protest the participation of his wife known as Aluel Messi.

Kiir reconstituted the Transitional National Legislative Assembly in May during which Mayen was appointed along with a group of politicians from the OPP.

The lawmakers were supposed to be sworn in tomorrow, but the presidency issues a statement this afternoon adjourning the swearing in ceremony to next Monday.