A leading South Sudanese activist group says that the NGO Bill passed by parliament last week will lead to the closure of civil society groups operating in the country.
Edmund Yakani, the executive director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said the bill puts South Sudan in the “exact situation” of neighboring countries Ethiopia and Sudan, whose governments enforce strict laws for NGOs and have shut down some of them.
“The passage of this bill will [create a] situation of the restrictions and closure of the non-governmental organizations,” Yakani told Radio Tamazuj. “The bill is restrictive and discriminating the non-governmental organizations’ work.”
The bill requires NGOs to register with the government and limit their activities to certain pre-stated purposes as well as to have a “country agreement” with the government about their operations.
“It completely undermines the non-governmental organizations work on governance, civic education, peace building and development,” Yakani said.
The activist pointed out that the NGO Bill comes at a time when South Sudan is facing key challenges securing democratic transformation and political stability, areas which civil society groups assist.
“The passage of the bill placed CEPO to fear that our engagement on advocacy and lobby issues may be closed by the authorities since the bill have zero consideration of our efforts,” Yakani said.
The European Union has said that the NGO Bill goes against the peace deal which requires the legislation to be reconsidered by a unified parliament and subject to public consultation.
International aid groups in South Sudan have separately complained that the bill if signed into law would restrict their ability to deliver relief to South Sudanese citizens in need of life-saving aid such as food and medicine.