The state legislative assembly in South Sudan’s Western Lakes State has resumed after two and a half years of recess.
Speaking during the assembly’s opening on Monday, the speaker, Chol Kuotwel said former governors did not want the assembly opened.
“This long recess I have referred to above dragged on for a very long period because of problems. The third session was never successful due to the same problems of lack of political will from the former governors to allow the assembly to operate,” said Kuotwel.
He added, “The honorable MPs of this August house have been more than willing to serve their people but were not allowed to do so by heads of the state executive for fear of law and accountability”.
The speaker, however, assured the state governor that the state legislative assembly would function normally under his administration.
“Today, July 1, 2019, we eventually opened the assembly with the hope that such delays will not happen again. Our people have gone through five long years of what I would correctly call legal deficiency. We should now begin to feel legally relieved. The respect of rule of law is the first description of a healthy democracy,” he said.
Kuotwel cited amendments of Lakes State Transitional Constitution 2011 and the Western Lakes State Transitional Constitution 2016, adjustment of Lakes State legislative assembly conduct of business regulations 2011 and enactment of the disarmament law for Western Lakes State in 2016 as some of the achievements of the assembly.
The speaker expressed concerns that seven MPs were forcefully removed from the assembly, yet no legal procedures were followed.
“We have always made it clear that these MPs did not lose their seats in this parliament because it has never been legal and procedural,” he stressed.
Kuotwel urged the assembly and the executive to demonstrate the spirit of cooperation and build trust among the arms of government.
On his part, the ruling party’s (SPLM) state secretary, Chol Dut Ajieng pledged his full support to the current state leadership.
“I appeal to you honorable members to avoid your internal differences and the grievances among yourselves and let us pursue the goal of peaceful co-existence in our diversities,” said Chol.
He added, “It is our risks and obligation as a ruling party to carry out dissemination of the revitalized peace agreement signed in September 2018 by our leadership to educate our civil population on misinterpretation of the state of emergency lifted by the president”.
Meanwhile, the Western Lakes State governor, Major General Mahmuod Solomon Deer Agok promised to work with the state assembly to develop key policies and ensure lawmakers pass the necessary legislations needed for the execution of their mandates.
“We need to cure our state from bad politics and replace it with constructive and healthy politics. We must resolve our differences using established and existing channels that empower us as Western Lakes State government officials and people of Rumbek,” he said.
He said his government put in place a security strategic plan to fight crimes and tackle conflicts arising from communal feuds and strife.
“Police will increase its visibility and policing will be building on the successful pattern of developments across the state,” he said.
The governor promised to convene inter-state conference in the coming months to discuss ways of ending cattle thefts in the region.