Deng Alor accused of absenteeism at EAC Council of Ministers meetings

JUBA – Lawmakers representing South Sudan at the East African Community Legislative Assembly are accusing the Minister for East African Affairs Deng Alor Kuol of not attending meetings of the Council of Ministers of the regional community saying the country’s interests are at risk because of the minister’s absenteeism.

Speaking to the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), Honorable Dut Gatkek Thomas, one of South Sudan representatives at the East African Court, said lack of participation from South Sudan’s minister is affecting the country’s interests as Minister Deng Alor fail to attend almost all meetings of the EAC council of ministers.

“What is affecting us are issues to do with participation. You see, things are being made at sectorial council meeting in which South Sudan is defaulting; they don’t attend so the participation is not that good and if you don’t attend, in what whatever decision you will definitely get nothing because it is you who [should] address your interests when you are present,” Thomas said.

“We are tasked to legislate, oversee, and advice institutions, but we don’t have a legal mandate to represent members of the executive,” he added.

Kim Gai Ruot Duop, another South Sudan lawmaker at the EAC parliament, said there is possibility that the minister of east African affairs can delegate another minister such as minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation which he said would be better than absence from the important meetings.

“The rules of the East African community allow him to nominate other ministers particularly minister of justice or the minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation because all those meetings are very important and they take very critical decisions including developmental projects,” he said.

“If our ministers are not attending the meetings of the council of ministers which are going to take serious decisions, what are we going to get? For us, our mandate is limited to legislation and we cannot represent the minister,” he added.