Who is the new Speaker of Parliament in South Sudan, Joseph Ngeri?

On Tuesday morning, the President of the Republic of South Sudan and Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Salva Kiir Mayardit, appointed Joseph Angiri Baseko as the new Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (Parliament), in a move that elevated a veteran politician in the SPLM whose career spans four decades between armed action, government, and legislative work.

Angiri takes over as speaker of parliament at a critical time, with the government announcing it is starting arrangements for general elections in December, in which the transitional parliament is expected to play a pivotal role in legislation and oversight.

Who is Joseph Angiri?

Angiri is 66 years old, born in Bangolo Viam in Mundri West County, Western Equatoria State, on January 1, 1960. He is married and has children.

Angiri received his primary education in Ladingwa and Bangolo (1971–1974), Mundri 2 Primary School (1975), Itri and Mbe Primary Schools in Maridi (1975–1976), and then Maridi 2 Intermediate School (1976–1979). He completed his secondary education at Rumbek Secondary School between 1980 and 1983.

Angiri then joined the Faculty of Education, Department of Science at the University of Juba, where he studied biology and chemistry during the years 1984–1988. In 1998, he was sent by the leadership of the SPLM/SPLA to Mekelle University in the Tigray region, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Management in 2002, and also worked as a consultant in 1998.

Angiri's political life

Angiri joined the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army during the Second Sudanese Civil War in 1988.
He became a member of the National Liberation Council in 2008, and served as a deputy in the National Legislative Assembly on the SPLM list since 2010. From 2010 until 2026, he was a member of the National Security and Public Order Committee in Parliament.

During the 21 years of war, as well as in the period following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and after independence, Angiri participated in numerous leadership training courses organized by the SPLM both inside and outside the country.

Angiri is one of the longest-serving deputy governors of Western Equatoria State, having served under three governors: Patrick Zumwe (2005–2007), Samuel Abujoon Kabashi (2007–2008), and Jemma Nunu Kumba (2008–2010).

His performance earned him the trust of President Salva Kiir. During the 32-state system, he was appointed governor and interim chairman of the SPLM in Amadi State (later abolished), where he held the position between 2015 and 2020. Some of his colleagues describe him as a calm, self-initiative person with strong administrative skills.