South Sudan's parliament has summoned Northern Liech state governor to answer allegations that he blocked a planned trip by MPs to the state, where they were due to disseminate peace.
Paul Yoane Bonju, the head of the parliamentary committee for information, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that Governor Joseph Nguen Monytuil would appear before MPs on Wednesday morning to answer reports that he was behind the blocking of two lawmakers from traveling to the state for peace dissemination.
“The governor was summoned because two MPs who were part of a group traveling for peace dissemination were recently stopped at the airport. Their names were cancelled and they were not allowed to travel to the state,” said Bonju.
Bonju, who is also the spokesman of the national legislative assembly, pointed out that the state governor is to appear before parliament to answer questions why he blocked two MPs from traveling to the state.
Bonju did not disclose the names of the two MPs who were reportedly blocked from traveling to Northern Liech state.
“According to the MPs, the governor canceled their names from the flight which they were supposed to board to Northern Liech state,” said Bonju.
Governor Monytuil could not immediately be reached for comment.
Separately, Paul Yoane Bonju said that the leadership of the national legislative has not yet decided on the issue of the new budget. He pointed out that the parliament would resume regular sittings on Wednesday.
South Sudanese lawmakers have recently stormed out of a budget presentation for the 2019/2020 financial year by the finance minister, citing unpaid salaries for the army and civil servants for the last six months.
Chaos erupted in the parliament as MPs stopped Finance Minister Salvatore Garang from presenting the budget, forcing speaker Anthony Lino Makana to suspend debate on the new budget.