Members of the Transitional Legislative Assembly (TNLA) have raised concerns over the circulation of wrong South Sudan symbols of sovereignty such as the flag and the map.
The MPs have called on the National Government, through the Cabinet Affairs Ministry, to address the issue.
A member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), representing Akobo County of Jonglei State, Tut Jok, said he was disappointed last month when he noticed that some basketball fans were waving two different flags of South Sudan; the correct version, with the sky-blue triangle, and the wrong one, with dark blue.
The Media Authority in 2023 issued a stern warning to advertisement and printing companies against printing the wrong version of the national flag.
The media regulator had pointed out the printing and circulation of the different versions in the country and at some diplomatic missions abroad.
Jok reiterated said he had witnessed the same mistake being repeated in most government offices.
“Honorable Speaker, you know that we have one flag in this country. The one that we pledged allegiance to is behind you (referring to the one with sky-blue triangle). I enjoyed watching our national basketball team during the Olympics but I was disappointed to see two flags, the good one and the one with dark blue,” he said.
The lawmaker said the police stations and the organized forces were also using the wrong flag.
He called on the Ministry of Information to ensure the correct version of the flag was displayed on the national broadcaster, SSBC, for the citizens to know.
Another MP, who identified himself as Malual, told the government to take up the task of distributing the correct version of flag.
Malual said the wrong map excluded parts of the Republic of South Sudan.
“Another important thing is the question of our geographical map. You find that it is cut somewhere there. Parts of the 1956 boundaries are left to Darfur and to Kenya,” he said.
“These maps were officially circulated. It is the duty of any country to make sure that maps that are in circulation are the officially recognized ones,” he said.
Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba, however, maintained that the issue of flag had been addressed by the Ministry of Information.
“This issue has been addressed by the Ministry of Information. I have seen on the streets banners with the right flag, the sky blue, and the dark blue one with a cross on it. This is a public education to the people to show the right color for the flag,” she said.