South Sudan parliament backtracks on food security inquiry, citing legal concerns

JUBA – South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) on Monday reversed its decision to summon eleven ministers, including Vice President James Wani Igga, for questioning over worsening food insecurity in Mayom County, Unity State.

The ministers, primarily from the economic cluster, were initially scheduled to appear before parliament last week.

They included Finance and Planning Minister Awow Daniel Chuang, Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Minister Albino Akol Atak, Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, and Trade and Industry Minister William Anyuon Kuol.

Oliver Mori Benjamin, Chairperson of the TNLA’s information committee, explained the decision to backtrack stemmed from legal concerns.

“The Transitional National Legislative Assembly unanimously agreed to revoke its decision of May 7th,” Benjamin told reporters on Monday.

“This decision involved summoning the Chairperson of the Economic Cluster and the relevant ministers to provide accountability on the looming hunger crisis in Mayom County,” he added.

Benjamin elaborated that the presidency, encompassing the president and five vice presidents, functions as a collegial body under the 2018 revitalized peace agreement and is exempt from parliamentary summons.

“The parliament determined that, as per the 2018 agreement, the presidency supersedes the constitution, which grants parliament the right to summon any member of the executive except the president,” Benjamin said.

“The agreement explicitly states that the parliament cannot summon the presidency, which includes the president and the five vice presidents,” he added.

He confirmed the decision was unanimously adopted by TNLA members on Monday.

All eleven targeted ministries fall under the economic cluster led by Vice President James Wani Igga.