South Sudan's National Legislative Assembly cut short its sitting on Tuesday after the Minister of Agriculture failed to show up for a scheduled discussion with legislators.

The minister had been expected to present a ministerial policy on agriculture.

Radio Miraya reported today that Acting Speaker Mark Nyipoch adjourned the sitting after he was informed that the minister had traveled out of the country on official business.

“Some MPs reacted angrily to the minister’s absence. The assembly’s agriculture committee said they received late communication that the minister was not available,” the radio station reported.

Members of parliament on Monday voted to endorse a policy speech delivered by the president at the opening of the current assembly session last week. A select committee had scrutinized the speech and presented a report to the house recommending endorsement.

But the Leader of the Minority Onyoti Adigo said the president’s address fell short of addressing the current economic crisis in the country.

File photo: Tractors imported recently by the South Sudan government from Sudan's Cardinal company