Africa-Press – South-Sudan. A member of South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislative Assembly on Monday expressed frustration over the parliament’s refusal to table a motion seeking to summon Vice President for the Economic Cluster, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel.
Machok Majong Jong, an SPLM lawmaker representing Gogorial West, said he submitted the motion to the Clerk of Parliament in August. The motion was not included in the agenda for discussion, prompting Machok to raise the issue during the Assembly’s information session on Sept. 15.
The legislator said his request was grounded in Article 55(3)(a) and (b) of the Transitional Constitution, 2011 (as amended), which grants the legislature authority to summon public officials. He also referenced the Assembly’s rules of procedure, which require the executive branch to be accountable to the House.
Machok argued that the vice president’s brief tenure has already raised “serious concerns” about economic mismanagement, corruption, and national security—citing the presence of Ugandan People’s Defense Forces in South Sudan.
“Right Honorable Speaker, on August 26 I submitted my motion concerning issues affecting our country. The motion seeks to summon the vice president responsible for the economic cluster to appear before this House,” Machok said on the floor of parliament.
He accused Bol Mel of mishandling oil revenues and misleading the public about salary payments.
“The country is going through economic hardship. There’s no money in the bank, and he told the people of South Sudan that salaries would be paid on the 24th of every month, which has not happened,” he said.
Machok questioned the rejection of his motion by the Assembly Business Committee (ABC), claiming that Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba had informed him of the decision.
Reading from parliamentary regulations, he said, “I am going to read the article that gives me the power to do that… because I was informed by the Speaker that my motion was rejected.”
Second Deputy Speaker Perimena Awerial, who chaired Monday’s session in the Speaker’s absence, urged the lawmaker to remain calm and assured him that a formal explanation would be provided.
“Honorable Machok has the right to raise that, and it has to be answered,” Awerial said. “The information was presented to the ABC. The resolution will be shared with you when the Right Honorable Speaker returns.”
Speaker Kumba is currently on an official trip. Awerial said the lawmaker would receive a signed copy of the ABC’s decision upon her return to Juba.
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