The Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) on Monday adjourned its session after it was abruptly informed that the ministers summoned to appear before the House to address the depreciation of the South Sudanese Pound traveled to Egypt.
Bak Barnaba Chol, the Minister of Finance and Planning, Kuol Athian Mawien, Minister of Trade and Industry, and Central Bank Governor James Alic Garang were scheduled to appear in the TNLA.
Another minister who was supposed to appear in parliament on Monday is Albino Akol Atak, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, who was meant to answer queries about the influx of refugees from Ethiopia.
However, in an abrupt announcement, Makuac Makuc Ngong, the TNLA clerk, said that all the officials traveled with President Salva Kiir to Egypt on Sunday.
“This is an announcement. The Governor of the Central Bank, Minister of Finance and Planning, and the minister of Foreign affairs abruptly traveled yesterday with His Excellency the President,” Makuc declared. “And they just brought their letters this morning telling the house that they could not make it today because they have traveled abruptly with the president. For that sense, Honorable Speaker adjourned the session.”
“We might have sitting if the body of Bishop Paride Taban is brought tomorrow and if not, we shall have the sitting on Wednesday,” the clerk added.
The postponement comes at a time when TNLA failed to conduct business the whole of last week.
Addressing the press after the adjournment of the session, John Agany, pointed out that the House was unable to conduct sessions last week because it was mourning one of the members who passed on.
“Today’s (Monday), the agenda was postponed because a number of ministers traveled with the president to Egypt and for that matter, the adjourned agenda will be tabled as soon as the ministers arrive,” he said. “Last week we lost Hon. Peter Longole. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are the days for sitting so the TNLA took a decision to mourn him. It is not a sin for a national figure to be mourned by his people.”