Onyoti says security bill is divisive, urges amendments

The minority leader in South Sudan’s parliament Onyoti Adigo Nyikuac has continued to voice criticism of the way in which the National Assembly voted on the new National Security bill, which some MPs consider to have been passed into law, while others challenge this.

The minority leader in South Sudan’s parliament Onyoti Adigo Nyikuac has continued to voice criticism of the way in which the National Assembly voted on the new National Security bill, which some MPs consider to have been passed into law, while others challenge this.

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, the minority leader and SPLM-DC deputy chairman said the vote on the bill contravened the parliament’s conduct of business regulations.

According to the regulations, lawmakers should be allowed ample time to study any resolution for final vote, but this vote was rushed and did not give them opportunity to study the text of the bill.

SPLM-DC party caucus and some SPLM-Juba faction MPs representing Equatoria states walked out of the assembly after the speaker declined to adjourn the session.

“The bill was opposed by the majority of the members who were attending the sitting. So the law in its current form will definitely divide the MPs,” he said.

Adigo urged diplomatic missions in South Sudan and the United Nations to put pressure on the government to allow the parliamentarians amend the bill before its final signing by President Salva Kiir.

On Wednesday, diplomats of European and American countries issued a joint statement in which they expressed concern at the Nation Security Service Bill.

Related:

Dossier: Reporting on the National Security Service Bill, 2014 (18 Oct.)