South Sudan parliament questions eleven ministers over deepening economic crisis

JUBA – South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) held a closed-door session on Monday morning to question government ministers about the country’s deepening hunger and economic crisis.

A total of eleven ministers and the commissioner-general of the country’s National Revenue Authority (NRA) were expected to provide policy responses on how to address these pressing needs in the world’s youngest country.

Speaking to journalists in Juba, Oliver Mori Benjamin, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee for Information and Communication, said the “in-camera” session was closed to the public, parliamentary attendants, and journalists.

“Tomorrow at 9 o’clock, let them come, then we will brief them on the outcome of the sitting in camera,” Mori said.

Mori explained that “in-camera” sessions allow only members of the assembly to participate, and no records of the proceedings are made public.

“Only members of parliament will be present in the hall. Even hall attendants are not going to be there. In the gallery where we usually have public, they are not going to be there. Only members of parliament,” he said.

Mori added that the public will be informed about the outcome of the session tomorrow morning.

The agenda for the meeting includes a discussion with ten ministers and the chairperson of the National Revenue Authority.

Those summoned include the ministers of Finance, Petroleum, Agriculture and Food Security, Trade and Industry, Mining, Livestock and Fisheries, Environment and Forestry, Water Resources and Irrigation, Land, Housing and Urban Development, Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, and Investment.