The South Sudan Transitional National Legislative Assembly resolved to form parliamentary committees to investigate the rampant insecurity and killings in parts of the country after some members tabled motions on the matter on Monday.
The first motion was presented by Mary Puru Micheal of Kajo Keji County, Central Equatoria State, regarding the killing of three youths on 26 May by elements of the SSPDF in her constituency.
On behalf of the Kajo-Keji parliamentary caucus, she said they were dismayed, disturbed, and shocked to hear about the summary execution of the three young men by soldiers of the national army after the latter found their colleague dead in Itorogwe Village of Kiri Boma in Kajo-Keji County.
The second motion was moved by Stephen Bol Ley (SPLM-IO) of Mayom County in Unity State urging the urgent need to end communal violence and cattle raiding across the country.
He said he rose “with a heavy heart” to bring the house’s attention to the recent incidences in which 24 businessmen were murdered at the Akop Market in Tonj North County, Warrap State.
Meanwhile, the third related motion was about atrocities committed by bandits from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) which was carved out of Jonglei State, and other areas in South Sudan, and was tabled by Alier Samuel Ateny who represents Bor County, Jonglei State.
The motions caught the attention of the august house with numerous members describing them as national security concerns and after deliberations, recommending the formation of parliamentary committees to go and investigate the matter.
John Aganny Deng, the chairperson of the information committee, said the three motions were debated and committees were formed to investigate further.
“These three motions were discussed concurrently and the house resolved committees should be formed by Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba, with the consent of the house, to go and investigate and find out the reasons as to why the people are killing themselves and then report back to the house,” he said.
According to Aganny, the house also recommended compulsory disarmament across the country, especially in areas with high incidents of violence.
“It was a very vivid discussion so we came to the conclusion that if we have to live in peace in South Sudan, then our people must be disarmed and the armaments will only be owned by the national army, SSPDF, and the other organized forces,” he said.
The parliamentary mouthpiece said the committees will report their findings to the house which will chart a way forward.