Northern Bahr el Ghazal parliament reopens amid concerns

March 31, 2015 (JUBA) – Members of South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal state legislative assembly have resumed parliamentary activities after more than three months of recess, despite split within their ranks and file as a result of rising internal political tensions and procedural matters.

There has been political instability within the membership of the state legislature and with the executive branch of the government after contested impeachment of caretaker governor, Kuel Aguer Kuel, in February.

The opening session on Monday 30 March which was to be attended by the caretaker governor was instead attended and opened by Lino Adup Achier, minister of local government, allegedly on behalf of the state governor though it remains unclear who authorized him. The caretaker governor is in the national capital, Juba, to clarify about his fate and could not attend the parliamentary session.

Also the rightful acting governor, Salva Chol Ayat, who should have represented the caretaker governor, earlier declined the invitation extended to him by the speaker to represent the caretaker governor, saying he had not received approval from him. The governor is reportedly confined in Juba by president Salva Kiir until the matter that led to his impeachment was handled.

Prior to the official opening of parliament, tensions arose between the state legislature and the executive branch following the impeachment on the ground that the caretaker governor had lost his party membership and had misappropriated public funds.

Kuel was accused of allegedly purchasing vehicles without parliamentary approval. Other charges included allegations of awarding a letter credit constituting a contract worth 3 million US dollars to his son to supply food items to the state without the knowledge of the state parliament.

However, Kuel and members of his administration have repeatedly denied the charges, saying the charges were politically manufactured against his idea to introduce reforms on taxation and tightened unnecessary expenditure on public finances, which he said denied some officials access to funds.

Speaker of the Northern Bahr el Ghazal legislative assembly, Isaac Makau Ayok, said the assembly had been opened and it would now carry out its normal oversight functions and activities.

He also dismissed some observations that the opening was in violation of the state transitional constitution because the caretaker governor was supposed to provide a statement on behalf of the executive.

Angok Achuol, a member of parliament also stressed on Monday that the acting governor was due to give an opening speech on the importance of establishing a just and comprehensive peace in the state, but later on allegedly changed his mind even after he had indicated that he would open the session.

Angok however said it was not necessary for the state governor or designate official to open the house since it was not the first session after the elections.

However, the government chief whip in the state parliament charged that the opening was a clear violation of the state constitution and undermines the principle unified system.

“The opening of the house by someone who has not been authorised is not the right procedure and undermines the principle of unified system. That person did not receive any approval from the caretaker governor and his decision does not represent the government but that of his group, even though he is still part of the government, which is an act of double standard and it is unacceptable,” said Benson Opuothmalo, in an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune.

Deng Nguac, another member of the state parliament argued that normal procedures required in the opening of the legislature have not been followed and that the opening was unlawful and illegal.

“What I know is that the opening of the assembly is done by the executive so that the state governor, like it is done at the national level of government, where the national legislative assembly is opened and closed by the president or designated official on behalf of the president, is able to give policy statement of the government, including achievements, challenges and strategies to adopt in order to address issues which have been identified and requiring decision to make improvements,” said Nguac.

“Will the speaker Isaac Makau Ayok and his group be able to make this policy statement, [and] on behalf of whom?” he aded.

(ST)