![CEPO Press Release logo. [Photo courtesy]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Gideon-Gatpan-and-Mukalia-Kennedy.png?resize=1640%2C924&ssl=1)
Yesterday, South Sudan’s minister of cabinet affairs Martin Elia Lomuro announced during a press conference announcing end of the transitional period and the beginning of the extended peace roadmap that Kiir and Machar have agreed to scrap a provision in the National Security Service act 2014 allowing the security agency to arrest and detain without a warrant of arrest.
“The national security law where there was disagreement on sections 54 and 55 about the arrest with or without a warrant has now been agreed by the president and first vice president and those will be scrapped,” Lomuro told journalists during the press conference.
The controversial act which was amended in September 2019 gives national security operatives the authority to detain anyone, monitor communications of suspects, and research and seize properties without necessarily obtaining a warrant.
In a statement extended to Sudans Post this afternoon, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) welcomed the agreement and congratulated Kiir and Machar for what it describes as a “long-awaited” decision and called on the two men to extend the same from the National Security Service Act to other legislations.
“Community Empowerment for Progress Organization congratulates President and First Vice President for this remarkable decision and act of embracing democratic practice. This is a long waited decision. CEPO is hoping that this spirit will be applied in the reforms of the other legislations like the Non-governmental Organization Act, 2015,” CEPO said.
Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPO said “the President and First Vice President agreeing on scraping the powers of the National Security Services to arrest without a warrant is demonstration of commitment for embracing democratic practices. It is good that the President and First Vice President responded positively to our advocacy and the legal opinion on the National Security Service by our Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.”
Yakani further thanked the parties to the revitalized peace agreement for publicly informing the citizens of end of the transitional period and the beginning of the twenty-four-month transitional period after which elections will take place.
“In Separate note, CEPO appreciates the parties to the R-ARCSS and the Government for publically informing the citizens on the process of ending the 36 months period of the transitional process and the roll out of the 24 months extended for implementing the pending tasks of the R-ARCSS. The release report by the government during the press conference was encouraging around what is delivered and what is expected to be delivered soon. What is delivered is below expectations but it is appreciable and we expect more,” Yakani said.
“The motivation demonstrated by the release report is release of accurate information on President signing United Nations Conventions and Treaties namely the UN convention on Political and Civil Rights, UN Convention on Political, Economic and Social Rights and UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) including the African Union Protocol called Maputo Protocol within this week. It will be impressive and motivated by the president roll out the beginning of the 24 months extended for the implementation of the transitional period,” he stressed.
It further said that “CEPO is proud that our advocacy and lobby on the signing of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Maputo Protocol and other UN Conventions. CEPO in partnership with South Sudan Union of Persons with Disabilities and the Light for the World will soon effectively engaged on disseminating the UNCRPD.
“Finally, CEPO is urging the parties and the government to urgently reconstitute the transitional political institutions namely National Constitution Review Commission, Political Parties Council and National Elections Commission. Speedy process of the transitional security arrangements particularly the redeployment of the graduated forces and the rolling out of the second branch of the unified forces.”
