South Sudan’s First Deputy Speaker Oyet Nathanial was set for a private trip from Juba to Uganda, but was blocked by the National Security Service (NSS) officers at the airport on Wednesday.
Oyet Nathaniel Pierino told Radio Tamazuj Wednesday that he was turned away from the airport by security officers, who were under instructions not to let him leave the country.
He pointed out that the Director General of the Internal Security Bureau of the National Security Service (NSS), Gen. Akol Koor Kuc, prevented him from travelling abroad despite approval of his travel by Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba.
“Yesterday (Wednesday), I received an emergency call from my family; I discussed it with the Speaker, and the Speaker granted me a leave of absence, so I sent the protocol to the airport. From the airport, the protocol was told that even after checking in my bags at the counter, now the last check-in to go to the lounge for departure, a security officer at the counter said we cannot approve if it was the Deputy Speaker because we have received instruction from the Director General of the National Security Service,” said Oyet.
“I said you give the phone to the security officer at the counter, but he refused to talk. Instead, he was seen calling somebody I think could be the Director General of the National Security, Gen. Akol Koor. So, he did not approve, and the plane even left my bags on the runway,” he added.
Oyet, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the opposition SPLM-IO led by First Vice President Riek Machar, decried the lack of freedom of movement in the country.
In response to the First Deputy Speaker’s statement, the National Security Service International Bureau said it blocked the first deputy speaker from travelling abroad over “self-permitted leave.”
The NSS spokesperson and director of public relations, David John Kumuri, said the First Deputy Speaker only availed a document signed by him in his capacity as the first deputy speaker of the August House.
The NSS describes the document as unilateral leave and insubordination, as they are often written and approved by the Speaker.
“The act that the national MP conducted by issuing a self-permitted leave is unilateral and an act of insubordination that is meant to undermine the authority and administration of the Speaker of the August House of which it is punishable by law,” David said.
South Sudan’s National Legislative Assembly on July 3, 2024, amended the law governing the National Security Service (NSS), in ways that will further entrench the agency’s longstanding abuses.
Parliament passed amendments to the 2014 National Security Service Act after a four-hour debate by a vote of 274-114 that will allow the agency to continue arresting or detaining people without a warrant.
