Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) on Wednesday unanimously adjourned a sitting scheduled to discuss President Salva Kiir’s speech during the opening of the house last month, citing the absence of ministers.
The legislators emphasized that the president’s speech is a key policy document that requires the presence of members of the executive, some of whom are parliamentarians.
President Kiir, in his remarks during the reopening of the parliament last month, stressed on wide range of issues, including the need for lasting peace in South Sudan, and called on holdout opposition groups to embrace dialogue and reconciliation, framing it as critical for national unity as the country prepares for elections in 2026.
Speaking before the start of the session, Elizabeth Adut, a member of the SPLM Party representing Northern Bhar el Ghazal State, said it is very important that the ministers attend the discussion to answer questions that may arise. She said at least half the number of ministers should be present, yet only 5 five were in the House.
“Ministers should attend the sitting to answer questions because the president’s speech is very important,” she stated. “We have thirty-five ministers and only five ministers appeared, which is not good.”
Adut called urged the House to adjourn the sitting to another date when all the ministers will be present.
Her sentiments were echoed by Gatkout Wat, a member of the SPLM-IO, who seconded the adjournment, saying the ministers are the implementers of President Kiir’s speech and should be in attendance.
“This speech of the president is the policy of the nation, which is why we need all our ministers to be here. It is not a normal sitting,” he said. “The president delivers the speech to the nation through parliament, and we need our ministers to be here.”
Meanwhile, Farouk Gatkuoth, the SPLM-IO Chief Whip, welcomed the adjournment.
“I concur with what has been said by my colleagues because the implementation of those policies is not done by this August House, but by the executive,” he said. “We have heard enough of the public accusing this parliament of being a rubber stamp, leaving the executive. Let us not expose ourselves this time.”
For her part, Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba declared that the president’s speech will be discussed on another day when at least half the ministers are in the House.
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