The Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State Transitional Legislative Assembly resumed business on Wednesday after almost eight months, marking the longest vacation since the parliament was reconstituted in 2021.
In April, the parliament halted activities for a three-month holiday and was planned to resume in July, but the plan was disrupted when President Salva Kiir replaced Governor Tong Akeen Ngor with Simon Uber Mawut in late June.
Mid this month, several state lawmakers and activists, who talked to this publication, called for the immediate parliament resumption to tackle corruption at the State Ministry of Finance and Planning, and address health and flood problems across Northern Bahr el-Ghazal.
The Assembly Speaker, Achol William Amuoi, confirmed the resumption of business, attributing the delay to Governor Mawut’s office requiring more time to study some issues.
“Yes, the assembly was reopened by the Governor on Wednesday after we were supposed to be away for three months, but for the changes that have occurred, especially the appointment of Simon Uber Mawut to replace Tong Akeen Ngor as Governor,” he said.
One of the Aweil West County MPs Achak Thiep Thiep commended the Governor for his commitment and promise to reopen parliament.
“The assembly was officially reopened by the new Governor, Simon Uber Mawut, and we are happy for him. We have come back with so many challenges from our constituencies, including the floods that devastated all areas and we thank the Governor for coordinating the cash distribution with the international humanitarian agencies,” said Thiep.
“We also have other challenges regarding the roads. Most of the people are farmers and we need feeder roads so that our local food producers may access their farms and the markets,” he added.
The Executive Director for Wider Aid and Development Agency (WADA), Peter Diing Ngong, reiterated appreciation to the Executive and Legislature for reopening the people’s House.
“On behalf of the Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State Civil Society Organizations, we are pleased and welcome the resumption of the assembly. This is crucial because the parliament spent almost 8 months without duties due to unclear circumstances,” Ngong said.