Diplomats say South Sudan security bill may contradict constitution

Diplomats of European and American countries on Wednesday expressed concern at South Sudan’s Nation Security Service Act, 2014, which parliamentarians recently sought to pass into law.  

Diplomats of European and American countries on Wednesday expressed concern at South Sudan’s Nation Security Service Act, 2014, which parliamentarians recently sought to pass into law.  

MPs of the ruling party split on the bill, preventing parliament from reaching quorum when the bill came before the national assembly earlier this month.

The EU Delegation and Heads of Mission of Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and United States of America issued a statement today.

They said they are “concerned by draft legislation in South Sudan aimed at regulating the work of the National Security Services and of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).”

“The Heads of Mission welcome steps to ensure that the Ministry of National Security has a suitable legal framework within which to operate but agree with opinion expressed recently in the Legislative Assembly that the National Security Bill as currently drafted could contradict fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined within South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution and extant legislation.”

The diplomats added that they support calls for further discussions of the bill, and a review of its text, to ensure that it complies with the constitution.

They also expressed concern that the draft NGO Bill could obstruct the work of NGOs and civil society, saying they are “firmly opposed to unnecessary restrictions on NGO operations and underline the importance of freedom of association and open civil space in any democratic society.”

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Dossier: Reporting on the National Security Service Bill, 2014 (18 Oct.)