In an unexpected turn of events on Wednesday, the sitting of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) was suddenly called off without clear reasons.
Parliament had convened for a scheduled session during which they were set to address pressing matters of public concern, including the alarming rise in child abductions, brutal killings of travelers on the roads, and ruthless cattle raiding in Nyirol County, Jonglei State. The assembly was anticipating a presentation on these critical issues by Hon. Michael Tot Ruot Wei as scheduled in the day’s program.
Additionally, the House intended to discuss another pressing matter related to the killings of women by armed criminals from Gogrial East County and the assassination of eight traders in Tonj County in Warrap State. Hon. Stephen Bol Lei was slated to deliver a presentation on the matter.
The day’s program also included a motion addressing insecurity along the South Sudan—Uganda border in Kajo-Keji County, Central Equatoria State, which was to be presented by Hon. Joseph Kiju.
However, as lawmakers took their seats, Clerk to Parliament Makuc Makuc Ngong, made an announcement informing the legislators present that Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba was engaged elsewhere and that an extraordinary sitting had been scheduled for Thursday instead.
Before the adjournment, there was heavy cloud cover and rain was anticipated. Notably, a significant number of seats in the Assembly remained vacant.
The chairperson of the information committee in Parliament, Hon. John Agany Deng, attributed the absence of lawmakers to the inclement weather and the fact that most lawmakers did not own vehicles.
“You have seen that usually most of the members do not have vehicles. Some of them came using boda-bodas (motorcycle taxis), and when it is raining, any sensible person will not believe that an honorable member of parliament will ride the boda-boda and come for a sitting,” he said. “So, the weather today might be one of the reasons that many of the MPs did not appear, but in fact, the quorum was going to be met.”