H.E Prof. James Wani Igga, Ph.D. was born in Kirilo, Juba County, in 1949. He attended Karpeto-Lobonok Bush schools, Okaru Intermediate Seminary, Tonj and Rumbek Secondary School. In 1975 Wani joined Cairo University, Egypt, faculty of Commerce and successfully graduated in 1979. During school and university days, Wani was a political activist and mobilizer. To support himself with his studies, he worked at various economic generating institutions. Upon completion of his studies, Wani worked in government ministry of finance, developing his career in Insurance and Financial system.  He holds an MA from university of Greenwich, UK, 2013 and a Ph.D. from Bulacan University, Philippines, 2017.

In 1985 James Wani wholeheartedly joined the SPLM\A liberation movement where he progressed as a junior officer to second highest in the movement throughout his days as a revolutionary cadre.  Through ranks and files he became SPLM\A Zonal Commander of Central and Western Equatoria (1987-1992), Chief of Operations among many other assignments given to him by Commander in Chief of the SPLAM\A. In 1994 Cdr. James Wani became the SPLM\A Secretary General following the movement’s first national convention in Chukudum. Besides, he was as well, Secretary of Finance and Economic Development. A position that would require him to be an orator to speak to the masses till the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, CPA, in 2005.

In 2008, he was elected to very powerful position of SPLM Deputy Chairman following the movement’s second national convention. Having cut his teeth deep into politics, Wani served as Right Honorable Speaker of South Sudan’s Legislative Assembly, 2005-2013.  In July 2013 Wani was appointed South Sudan’s Vice President a position he still holds. With signing of the Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan, R-ARCSS in September 2018, he was became Vice President for Economic Cluster in 2020. To recognize his military career as a liberator, in 2019 H.E Dr. James Wani Igga was decorated a full General in the South Sudan People’s Defense Force, SSPDF.