South Sudan’s opposition parties urged President Salva Kiir not to sign the national security bill passed by parliament last week.
On Wednesday, speaking in a news conference, fourteen opposition parties said the assembly did not have quorum so the bill’s legality is in doubt.
“We appeal to the president of the republic not to asent to the act and return it to the national legislative assembly for reconsideration,” said Lam Akol, head of the SPLM-DC and the Political Parties Leadership Forum (PPLF).
Lam said some provisions of the act contravene the constitution and the bill of rights.
“Such a sensitive act requires a reasonable degree of consensus among our people,” he said. “This is the more so under the current crisis facing the country. None of that was achieved as the official opposition walked out parliament. Other members from the ruling party from Equatoria also walked put and a good number [abstained] in protest.”
The parties said they will coordinate with other stakeholders to ensure a finial security bill serves the interests of the people of South Sudan.
South Sudan’s national assembly earlier this week deliberated on a bill granting new legal powers to the National Security Service. The bill broadens the legal mandate of the service from gathering information and analysis to policing against “crimes and offenses against the state.”
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Radio Tamazuj Photo: Dr Lam Akol in joint press conference at Political Parties Leadership Forum