Kiir urges lawmakers to dump ‘partisan politics’ to enable passing of critical bills

JUBA – President Salva Kiir Mayardit has urged lawmakers in the transitional national legislature to put aside partisan politics and engage in what he calls ‘genuine debate’ to enable passing of critical bills crucial in the conduct of the would-be 2023 elections.

This comes after the main armed opposition group Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) walked out of parliament to protest what it called manipulation of bills proposed by the National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC) by the SPLM parliamentary majority.

Speaking while delivering his annual independence day message at the presidency on Saturday morning, Kiir said all the bills provided for in the revitalized peace agreement are in their final stage in the parliament and are expected to be passed soon.

“All the required bills that we need to finalize the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement: the Security Sector bills, the Permanent Constitution-Making bill among others are in their final stage of reading by the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly (R-INLA),” he said.

He said the passing of the bills is critical for holding national elections at the end of the transitional period and urged the lawmakers to put aside partisan different and engage in genuine debate that would see this bills passed.

“The passing of these bills is critical because they are key to holding credible elections at the end of the interim period. It is for this reason that our people along with our international partners are eagerly waiting for the passing of these bills,” Kiir said.

“I am also adding voice today by urging our members of parliament to put aside partisan politics and engage in genuine debate that will pave the way to passing these bills,” he added.

GRADUATION OF UNIFIED FORCES

The South Sudanese president further said plans are underway for the graduation of the unified forces provided for in the revitalized peace agreement and that plan is in its ‘advance stages’ and a meeting of the presidency will fix a date for the graduation of forces.

“I am also aware that another sticking point that the region and the international community are waiting for is the graduation of the Unified Forces. Plans for graduation of the Unified Forces are in advance stages and the Presidency will sit in the coming days to fix the date for their graduation,” he said.