South Sudan: New VP vows allegiance Amidst Mixed Reactions

By Newsfromafrica

JUBA - James Wani Igga was on Sunday sworn in as new South Sudanese Vice President to replace former long-time deputy Riek Machar, who was removed last month by Kiir in a major cabinet reshuffle.

The swearing in function was attended by senior members of government including President Salva Kiir and Chief Justice Chan Reec Madut who swore in the new Vice President.

Igga thanked the people of South Sudan for electing Kiir as their President. He described Kiir as ‘full of wisdom’ and ‘talent’ which he said will be useful in ushering South Sudan out of misery.

“I congratulate our people for electing an able president, a president full of wisdom and energy and a leader who will surely usher this nation out of misery and cohesively keep our people united, a number one requirement for any country”, Igga told the audience at the swearing in ceremony.

The Vice President said he would work with the President whom he constantly referred to as ‘‘Comrade President’’, a term commonly used during the liberation struggle, to do "every thing possible to prevent a new war" within and outside the country.

Mixed reactions has emerged as residents in South Sudan’s Unity state, homeland of the former vice-president, on Monday said that the appointment of the country’s new vice-president, James Wani Igga, was a deliberate ploy by president Salva Kiir to protect his own political interests at the upcoming 2015 elections.

Machar’s removal came after he declared his intention to challenge Kiir for the SPLM leadership at the 2015 election.

He had been a vocal critic of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), citing a lack of vision, rampart tribalism, poor international relations and systemic corruption in the new nation.