The Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), an advocacy organization, has asserted that the SPLM Party led by President Salva Kiir does not have the authority to make national decisions.
On Thursday, the SPLM Party leadership held a meeting where it was decided to prioritize timely salary payments, enforce lawful revenue collection, and eliminate illegal tax exemptions.
CPA Executive Director Ter Manyang Gatwech however says the party cannot make decisions for the nation and recommends the incorporation of written resolutions to enhance accountability to the citizens of South Sudan.
“President Salva Kiir Mayardit, as the head of state, has the right to make decisions on national issues facing the country,” he stated. “This includes the implementation of the R-ARCSS and the delays in payments for civil servants, which cannot be decided solely by a political party”.
SPLM Secretary General Peter Lam Both said the meeting resolved that collection of oil non-revenue must be conducted transparently, tax exemptions stopped, and revenues from Blocks 3 and 7 in the Upper Nile region be used exclusively to pay public employees and support essential government operations.
CPA however reminded the SPLM Party that they should know the difference in roles between national issues and roles within their political party.
“The roles and duties of the South Sudanese president include serving as the head of state and government, as well as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and representing the country on the international stage according to the constitution as amended,” Manyang said.