SPLM-IO MPs protest passing of Wildlife Service Bill

SPLM-IO MPs protest passing of Wildlife Service Bill

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) is fuming over the passing of the National Wildlife Service amendment Act in the absence of the opposition parliamentary caucus.

The SPLM-IO lawmakers termed the changes as ‘‘a persistent breach of the peace agreement by the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA).’’

The South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) and a section of MPs from the SPLM accepted an amendment to the National Wildlife Service in the regular sitting number 15/2022, which was amended by the members of the SPLM-IG parliamentary caucus.

“Recalling our press conference held on the 13th, June 2022, highlighting the violation of the agreement in which the SPLM parliamentary opted to unilaterally introduce changes to all the amendment bills drafted by the NCAC and others pursuant to the peace agreement,” read the statement signed by the deputy chairperson of the SPLM-IO, Oyet Nathaniel.

“The SPLM-IO parliamentary caucus learned with dismay of the continuous and relenting decision by the speaker and the SPLM IG parliamentary caucus of the TNLA to pass today, July 6, 2022, the Wildlife Service Act 2011 (Amendment) bill 2022 with alterations contrary to the agreement.”

“The TNLA passed the Wildlife Service Act 2019 (Amendment) bill 2022, retaining the former SPLA military rank therein as opposed to the conventional wildlife service rank introduced in the bill by the NCAC as part of the reforms in the wildlife service.”

They alleged that the efforts to transform the wildlife service, national security, national police service, and civil defence service from parliamentary forces to law enforcement services are being lost in the TNLA. They added that the parliament is also changing the provisions in the permanent constitution-making process bill.

The members urged the parties to the agreement, R-JMEC, and the guarantors to step in and settle this issue as quickly as possible so that the reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly’s powers and functions can be restored in accordance with article 1.14.8.

“In light of the above, the SPLM-IO parliamentary caucus condemned in no uncertain terms the continuous violation of the agreement and disregard of the advice of the relevant peace implementation mechanism (NCAC)”.

The SPLM-IO parliamentary caucus is opposing two bills, the second of which is the wildlife service law. The Political Parties Act was the previous bill that caused their abstention from parliamentary work, which has been for a month already. They have threatened to return if their disagreement is not resolved.

However, Michael Makuei, the government’s spokesperson, claimed last Friday that the disagreement in parliament was resolved but insisted that as long as the necessary number of members were present, the August House would continue to conduct business as usual. He was briefing the media on the Council of Ministers meeting.

Early this month, President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr Riek Machar were urged by Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Nicolas Haysom, to settle the differences in the parliament amicably so that they could resume meetings.

“I would like to encourage the legislature to resume the sittings and to pass the constitution-making process bill.” This will govern the drafting of a permanent constitution,’’ Haysom said.

“It is critical to tackle the root causes of the protracted crisis in South Sudan by addressing issues of governance as well as federal part and revenue sharing.”

The boycott by the SPLM-IO started when the opposition lawmakers accused their SPLM-IG counterparts of underhand dealings in the controversial amendments and passing of the Political Parties Act.

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