Kornelio Kon, the deputy head of the opposition National Alliance, and leader of the National United Democratic Front Party (NUDF) says opposition MPs appointed for the transitional National Legislative Assembly will work to reform existing laws.

Political parties in South Sudan last week reached a deal on allotment of 17 new seats, which are set to be created under the terms of the August 2015 peace deal.

Chapter 1, Article 11.1 of the peace deal provides for the expansion of the existing parliament from 332 members to 400 members, including 50 from SPLM-IO, 1 from SPLM-FD and 17 from other political parties.

President Salva Kiir has already appointed the 50 members from SPLM-IO, though they have not yet been sworn in.

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj Tuesday, Kornelio Kun said that his group will push for law reforms as their top priority in the house, saying the desired legal reforms should separate powers in an attempt to avoid future problems in South Sudan.

“There is a certain group which imposes its view and implements it, so the transitional parliament should enact laws that comply with the citizens' will – not a certain group," he said.

The absence of rule of law was the reason for the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, according to the party leader. "South Sudan has no clear constitution, and it has no clear law, it is running like a plank floating on water, it has no person in charge," he affirmed.  

The leading member of the opposition alliance also accused South Sudan's judiciary of bias, alluding to unresolved complaints previously raised by the opposition group against government policies.

Opposition parties brought a case recently against the government after President Salva Kiir decreed the creation of 28 states, saying the president cannot alter the number of states stipulated in the constitution, which is ten.

Kun called upon the international community to put pressure on the two warring parties to implement the signed peace agreement.

Listen to the full interview (in Arabic):