SPLA-IO Accused of Detaining Civilian Boats, Demanding $4,000 Along Sobat River ‎

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‎ Boat ferrying civilians  Nasir, Upper Nile State  ‎Authorities in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, have accused forces loyal to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army In Opposition (SPLA-IO) of detaining civilian riverboats and demanding ransom-like payments of up to $4,000 from traders and passengers along the Sobat River. ‎ ‎According to Nasir County Commissioner James Gatwech Joak, several boats traveling from Matar in Nasir County to Malakal were intercepted by SPLA-IO soldiers in Yakuach, an area in Nyirol County, Jonglei State. ‎ ‎“Our traders paid local taxes to SPLA-IO in Mandeng before setting off. But on reaching Yakuach, they were detained again and told to pay an additional four thousand U.S. dollars,” Commissioner Gatwech said. ‎ ‎He explained that the detained boat operators and traders were reportedly held for four days while armed men demanded more payments.  ‎ Some of the passengers were women, children, and patients traveling for medical treatment in Malaka...

Members Of The Parliament Demands Action Against The Cabinet Ministers Who Failed To Show For Questioning To Regarding Their Dockets

Transitional National Assembly 


Cabinet Ministers and Members of the Transitional National Assembly are at logger heads after various Cabinet Minister fail to turn up for questioning whenever they were summoned for questioning at the National Parliament.

 

On Wednesday this week over 12 Cabinet Ministers refused to turn up for questioning before the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, the Cabinet Ministers were needed to answer crucial questions to matters regarding their dockets.

 

Here are the names of the Cabinet Ministers who refused to appear before the Legislatures or commonly known ‘lawmakers’. Cabinet Affairs Minister Hon. Martin Elia Lomuro, Federal Affairs Minister Lasuba Wango, East African Affairs Minister Deng Alor Kuol, Peacebuilding Minister Stephen Parl Kuo, Justice Minister Ruben Madol Arol, National Security Minister Obote Mamur Mete, and Information Minister Michael Makuei.

 

The other Cabinet Ministers who failed to show up for question are; Public Service Minister Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro, Gender, Child and Social Welfare Minister Ayaa Benjamin Warille, Humanitarian Affairs Minister Albino Akol Atak, and Youth and Sports Minister Albino Bol Dhieu.

 

Parliamentary Spokesperson John Agany Deng while speaking to the media on Wednesday said that, the Cabinet Minister shunning off parliamentarians is a sign of disrespect and disgrace to the National Assembly.

 

“Our national ministers who are supposed to be here, some of them are even MPs and are supposed to be in every parliamentary sitting but you will find only one,” Agany said.

 

“I would like to let the house know that we are disgraced now and then by the executive, which is not good. I want to understand whether we should make our house strong or leave it to be weak” Agany added.

 

“This house has resolved that in every sitting the designated minister must come and attend the sitting but they turn deaf ears,” Agany said.

 

Agany further explained that, Regulation number 41 of conduct of business regulation allows the lawmakers to question and Cabinet Ministers in the first hour of National Assembly Proceedings.

 

 

Government Chief Whip, Rebecca Joshua Okwaci reiterated that the Cabinet Ministers should appear whenever summoned to the parliament to answer questions related to their dockets.

 

“We are aware and I experienced this as a former minister. When there is an issue of concern that falls under your ministry, you can also come and attend,” Rebecca said.

 

Hon. Mary Nawai Martin defended herself by saying that she has written a letter to summoning the above mentioned cabinet ministers to attend parliament proceedings on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

“Whenever I receive the agenda from the parliament, I also send it to the cabinet and also write informing them that there is a sitting and those who are supposed to attend on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday should go to parliament.” Hon. Nawai said.

 

As a result of a peace agreement that came into effect in February 2020, a new Transitional National Legislative Assembly with 550 members was nominated in May 2021. The membership is as follows: 332 members of the former National Legislative Assembly (mainly from Sudan People's Liberation Movement)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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