S. Sudan refers Security Council resolution to lawmakers
August 15, 2016 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese government has referred the recent United Nations Security Council Resolution that authorized sending extra 4,000 troops to boost UN peacekeepers in country with a mandate to fight rival forces, to its national assembly for further consultations.
The First Vice President Taban Deng Gai, Vice President James Wani Igga plus the cabinet ministers also attended the extraordinary meeting.
“It’s clear that this document has some pros and cons,” information minister, Michael Makuei told reporters in Juba.
“And as such, it is decided that this process be taken to the parliament so that it becomes public and a clear stand and decision taken by the whole government of the Republic of South Sudan,” he added.
President Kiir addressed the Transitional National Legislative Assembly on Monday for the first time since it was reconstituted under the terms of the peace agreement.
In his speech to lawmakers, the president criticized the UN resolution, but gave lawmakers opportunity to deliberate.
Makuei said MPs will consult civil society groups, South Sudanese citizens and other political parties on the UNSC Resolution number 2304 (2016), which was adopted Friday.
The South Sudan leader described the Security Council resolution as a prelude of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) chairman, Festus Mogae and UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), head Magrette Leoj during a dinner organized by the First Vice President.
“Of course this has become a business and these people want the kind of work that will enable them to continue to receive money,” Kiir told the state-owned SBBC TV.
It is not clear how long parliament will take to deliberate the resolution, but the UN is keen to avoid further after Juba made its intention to reject the UN resolution public.
(ST)