Today, Laos has made a major change to its top leadership, appointing former Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith as prime minister and moving outgoing Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone to the presidency of the National Assembly.
The reshuffle follows the death of National Assembly President Xaysomphone Phomvihane in August at age 69.
Xaysomphone passed on 8 August, according to an official announcement from the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee. He had been re-elected as National Assembly president just months earlier, in March, when Laos opened its 10th legislative term.
Sounthone Xayachack, a National Assembly vice president, stepped in as acting president on 18 August after Xaysomphone’s death. The position remained open until lawmakers met on today, 5 October, for the second ordinary session of the 10th Legislature.
Shortly after 8 AM on Monday, Laos’ top leaders apppointed Sonexay to lead the National Assembly and approved Saleumxay as Prime Minister. All 158 lawmakers present voted in favor of Saleumxay.
Ongoing Reshuffles
The changes are the latest in a series of major leadership reshuffles in recent years.
In March 2021, then-Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith became state president, replacing Bounnhang Vorachit. Phankham Viphavanh, then vice president, became prime minister, while Xaysomphone was elected National Assembly president, replacing Pany Yathotou, who became a vice president.
In December 2022, Phankham stepped down as prime minister and Sonexay, then deputy prime minister, was elected to replace him.
Laos also reshuffled nine senior government officials in June 2025, including changes at the ministries overseeing finance, education, health, labor, agriculture, and industry and commerce.
After the March 2026 National Assembly elections, the country initially kept the same top leadership. Thongloun was re-elected as president, Sonexay remained prime minister, and Xaysomphone was re-elected as National Assembly president.
The New Leadership
Sonexay, born in 1966, has a background in the military and government administration. He served in the Lao People’s Army’s armored forces before holding senior government positions, including governor of Champasak Province and minister of planning and investment. He became deputy prime minister in 2022 and prime minister later that year.
Saleumxay, born in 1968, built his career in diplomacy and foreign relations. He held several positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including serving as Laos’ representative to the United Nations. He became foreign minister in 2016 and deputy prime minister in 2022.
The leadership reshuffle is expected to continue over the next few days.
