South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed the speaker and deputy speaker of the national parliament, a dramatic shake-up that exposes deepening tensions within the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement party.

The move, announced through a presidential decree and reported by multiple news agencies, removed Jemma Nunu Kumba from the powerful post of speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, along with her deputy, Permena Awerial Aluong.

Kumba, a veteran SPLM politician and long-time ally of Kiir, made history as the first woman to lead South Sudan’s parliament. She had presided over the assembly since 2021, a period meant to consolidate the country’s fragile peace and guide preparations for long-delayed elections.

The dismissals follow a petition by members of the SPLM parliamentary caucus, who accused Kumba of poor leadership and alleged corruption, including the mismanagement of parliamentary funds. Lawmakers who backed the petition argued that the assembly’s credibility and effectiveness had been eroded under her stewardship.

In a statement issued shortly before her removal, Kumba defended her record and pledged adherence to South Sudan’s constitution and the revitalized peace agreement that underpins the current transitional government. Her office said it had “taken note of the concerns raised” and was prepared to address them through formal institutional channels, signaling resistance to efforts to unseat her through internal party pressure.

Kiir has appointed Joseph Ngere Paciko as the new speaker and Abuk Paiti Ayiik as deputy speaker, both seen as loyalists expected to align closely with the presidency’s agenda as the country navigates a volatile political landscape.

The parliamentary shake-up comes on the heels of another abrupt dismissal: the sacking of Finance Minister Bak Barnaba Chol after only three months in office, with no public explanation. That decision fueled speculation about power struggles within the ruling elite and disagreements over how to manage South Sudan’s oil-dependent economy and chronic cash shortages.

Analysts say the removal of Kumba and her deputy underscores Kiir’s determination to tighten control over key state institutions ahead of a sensitive political transition. But critics warn that repeated purges at the top risk undermining already fragile governance structures and could further strain the coalition underpinning the peace deal.