South Sudan’s parliament has appointed George Mabior Mayom as the new acting chief whip of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), replacing Farouk Gatkuoth Kam.
The announcement was made Thursday during a meeting of the parliamentary business committee, chaired by newly appointed First Deputy Speaker Ambrose Lomin Pitia. The session was convened to set the agenda for upcoming parliamentary discussions.
Mayom is part of the SPLM-IO faction led by Peacebuilding Minister Stephen Par Kuol, which split from the main opposition in April and has pledged to work closely with the government and the ruling SPLM party to implement the 2018 peace agreement.
The reshuffle comes amid deepening divisions inside SPLM-IO following the suspension of First Vice President Riek Machar, who was placed under house arrest in March and formally suspended last week on charges of treason and crimes against humanity.
Several of Machar’s close allies, including Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chuol and Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, remain under arrest.
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