R-TNLA’s continued passage of bills without SPLM-IO kills spirit of cooperation among parties – Dutch ambassador

JUBA – Outgoing Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands to South Sudan, Jelte Van Wieren, said Thursday that continued passing of bills by the revitalized parliament in absence of the main opposition party, SPLM-IO, kills the spirit of cooperation among peace signatories.

On July 6, 2022, the Revitalized Transitional National Assembly (R-TNLA) passed the Wildlife Service Act 2011 (Amendment) Bill 2022 in absence of lawmakers from SPLM-IO.

The SPLM-IO in May pulled out of parliamentary sittings to protest what it called manipulation of Political Parties Acts by lawmakers from the ruling party under President Salva Kiir.

The Opposition accused the SPLM of raising the number of voters for registration of the party from 300 to 500.

Speaking during the 23^rd monthly meeting of RJMEC in Juba on Thursday, Ambassador Wieren expressed concerns over the continued boycott by the SPLM-IO, saying it is not helpful.

“The continuing boycott by SPLM-IO of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (R-TNLA) over the passage of the political parties act is not helpful at all. However, what makes it even worse, is that, instead of joining forces to discuss and solve the problem, the R-TNLA has continued approving bills without opposition,” Wieren said.

Wieren said although this may be legal, it goes against the spirit of cooperation among the parties.

He said he is sad to leave South Sudan at a time when lack of political space and civil liberties remain the biggest threats to democratization.

“I cannot imagine how elections can help the country forward if people are not allowed to freely debate how they want to shape their future. The heavy-handed reactions to any kind of criticism to me look like the government somehow fears its own citizens,” he said.