Igga joined the South Sudanese rebels in 1985,training in Cuba and Ethiopia. He rose rapidly through the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) ranks,[7] and,by 1987,had the rank of major and commanded the Shakus Battalion.[10] The same year,he was Zonal Commander of Central Equatoria and a member of the SPLA/M High Command.[11] He was reportedly well-respected among civilians.[12]
Igga was one of the SPLA's most senior representatives during negotiations with SPLA-Nasir. He represented Garang as the head of the SPLA-Torit delegation at peace talks in Nairobi in November 1991. In 1993,he accompanied Garang to Nairobi for a peacemaking seminar in June and to Kampala for an IGAD-mediated dialogue with the Nasir faction.[13] Igga had known Lam Akol,one of the Nasir leaders,since their time together in the Cuban training camp.[8]
As chairman of the SPLM Political Affairs Commission,Igga established the Technical Committee of Intellectuals in February 2000. This committee was tasked with planning the civil administration of Southern Sudan.[14]
Igga read out the proclamation of independence when the two Sudan's divided.[7] He continued as the legislative speaker of the lower house from 2011 to 2013.[16]
President Salva Kiir appointed Igga as vice president on 23 August 2013 to replace Riek Machar,who he had dismissed a month previously. He was required to resign as speaker.[17] Igga was unanimously confirmed by the National Assembly on 26 August.[18]
On 19 August 2020,six of Igga's bodyguards were killed in a road ambush by National Salvation Front rebels in Igga's hometown of Lobonok. He was not with those bodyguards at the time.[20]
On 10 February 2025,President Kiir implemented a cabinet reshuffle that resulted in the replacement of Igga as vice president by Benjamin Bol Mel and Igga becoming secretary-general of the SPLM.[21]
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