The National Assembly in South Sudan’s capital Juba has not gone for recess as earlier planned but instead remains on call to be briefed on the status of peace talks, according to members of the leadership of the ruling party caucus (SPLM-Juba).

“The parliament was supposed to go on recess but the leadership felt it was necessary to reschedule it because members need to get briefing from members of the government delegation to the peace talks,” said one MP.

He explained that the members need to have clear information about the status of the peace talks so they can go to their constituencies with one consistent message. “So members have not gone on recess yet. They will go after getting briefing, which is what is being done now,” he said.  

Agany Deng Kawac, a parliament member from Aweil East County, Northern Bahr al Ghazal, said, “Priority now is given to the peace talks in Ethiopia, because if they are concluded, the house would be required to make ratification of the agreement and make necessary incorporation and amendments to the transitional constitution.”

On the status of the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) bill, Speaker Manasseh Magok Rhundial said the bill is still at the level of parliamentary committee.

“When they are finished with their work, they will bring it to the house for general debate and members of the general public will be allowed to participate at public hearing. At the moment, the committee is consulting stakeholders.”

“They are getting inputs from the ministry of justice, from the civil society organisations, from members of the public and the other concerned groups, like members of the community-based organisations and the international relief organisations operating in the country.”

“This is a process which requires patience,” said Magok.   

File photo: Manasseh Magok Rhundial, Speaker of the Assembly (Radio Tamazuj)