The Executive Director of Vision for Generation Organization, Christopher Taban, has reiterated the appeal for revocation of the recently passed National Security Act 2024.
The Bill, passed on July 3 and delivered to the President on July 12, is believed to have automatically become law since the prescribed 30 days had elapsed after its submission.
Speaking during the extraordinary meeting of the Revitalized Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) in Juba on Wednesday, Taban slammed the parties to the 2018 Peace Agreement for letting the South Sudanese down.
He blamed the Transitional National Legislative Assembly for passing the National Security Bill despite the cries from the people.
“I think the members of parliament and RTGoNU let us down. When we opposed the National Security Act, Article 54 and 55, you chose to betray us. We need that article to be revoked,” he appealed, adding that the revocation would offer protection against abuse by the security agents.
Taban said since the General Election had been pushed to 2026, there was a need for opening of the civic and political space.
“We demand civil and political space as a top priority, so when Taban is speaking today, he is sure that he is speaking on behalf of this country and he should not be arrested or intimidated,” he said.
Taban also appealed for funding from the international community, especially to the civil society, for more civic education ahead of the 2026 General Election.
“I think it’s time for us to request the international bodies to loosen the purse strings for the civil society to step up civic engagement before the elections,” he said.
“Secondly, it is time for us to streamline the election institutions. We need to ensure that the election institutions are streamlined and not threatened, so that we have free, fair and credible elections come 2026,” he asserted.