S. Sudan justice minister tables amendment bill on 28 new states

October 20, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s justice minister, Paulino Wanawilla on Tuesday asked the country’s lawmakers to amend articles 162, 164 and 165 of the Transitional Constitution to incorporate 28 new states decreed by President Salva Kiir.

“Since the president of the republic has responded to the popular demand for further decentralization creating more states and bringing the number of states in the republic of South Sudan to 28 states, it is therefore necessary to amend certain articles of the transitional constitution 2011,” said the minister.

Article 162(1) of the constitution defines South Sudan as composed of 10 states. That has to be changed to 28 states. Article 164 states that members of state assemblies “shall comprise of the current elected members.” The president will appoint 21 MPs in the new states.

On the other hand, Article 165 (1) says “a governor for each state elected by the residents of that state in compliance with the requirements prescribed by the National Elections Commission and in accordance with this Constitution and the relevant state constitution.” The president will appoint all the 28 state governors in consultation with community leaders.

Meanwhile, the opposition leader in parliament said the ammendment bill was unconstitutional.

“It is contradicting the constitution and also the agreement which the president signed on 26th August and was ratified by this house on 10th of September,” said Onyoti Adigo.

“It is a practice in this house that anything in court is not supposed to be deliberated by this house until the court take a decision,” he added, while referring to the court case filed by the opposition alliance against President Kiir’s decree.

The national assembly speaker Manasseh Rundial declined to halt tabling of the bill process. His move was backed by MPs from the country’s ruling party (SPLM).

The committee will make its presentations to the parliament in 30 days for deliberations.

(ST)