By Bida Elly David
East African Parliamentary Bureau (EPB) is set to conduct a speakers’ parliamentary forum in Juba for the second time tomorrow.
The forum aims to elect a new chair as the incumbent Rt. Hon. Jemma Nunu Kimba’s term comes to an end.
Speaker Nunu was elected over last year.
The regional parliamentary speakers are expected to land in Juba today, with the secretariat and clerks on the ground already, according to Parliament spokesperson, John Agany.
He said the forum will also discuss regional challenges, with a focus on South Sudan and how constraints will be remedied.
“They chose South Sudan because every year the speaker’s forum is chaired by the president, Jemma Nunu Kumba now that her term has finished, they have decided to elect a new president of the forum,” Agany said.
The forum is crucial as it will clear global doubts about South Sudan’s conflicting status in the region.
“In the political field, South Sudan remains with a very bad image that we have been people always making war against ourselves and we are very hostile,” he added.
South Sudan’s image has been tarnished in the political field, and this forum will help South Sudan change this negative image, Agany stated.
The forum will also enable South Sudanese to realize the national peace that reigns in the region.
Last year, South Sudan hosted a regional parliamentary speakers’ forum in Juba, bringing together all heads of parliament from the IGAD region.
The meeting discussed regional challenges facing countries within the region and recommended solutions.