The much-discussed National Security Act 2014 (Amendment) Bill 2024, which grants the security agency the authority to detain suspected criminals without a warrant, was approved by South Sudanese MPs on Wednesday.
The two contentious Bill provisions, 54 and 55, which grant the agency extensive, unrestricted authority, were upheld by the parliamentarians.
After the lawmakers were unable to come to an agreement, with some calling for the removal of the two provisions as required by a segment of the civil society, the Bill was passed by a vote.
Oliver Mori Benjamin, the chairwoman of the Information Committee and spokesperson for the Assembly, told the reporters following the session that they had to vote because the August House had not reached a consensus.
Following their agreement to remove two sections that gave the National Security Service the authority to detain and arrest people without an arrest warrant, President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar passed the bill, which many view as a threat to the citizens.
When media questioned Mori about why Parliament disregarded the principles’ decision, he replied that the August House had not received any formal correspondence from the party leadership.
“There was no documentation demonstrating that the two had reached a consensus to eliminate or abolish sections 54 and 55. In the House, it was discussed. That’s it, then,” he continued.
The lawmaker went on to say that the bill was approved and that the members’ vote was democratic.
Oyet Nathaniel, the First Deputy Speaker and deputy chair of the opposition SPLM-IO, was against the Bill’s passage. He insisted that the two sections be removed.
The two provisions should be removed, according to Peter Lomude, the acting Chief Whip and a member of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), because they do not align with the Constitution.
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Reaction from the Legislators in South Sudan approve a contentious security bill.
Activist Elijah Luk. has the following to say after the passing of the bill
“Holy God, Ghost fire:
I strongly condemned the South Sudanese tribal parliament of President Kiir regime that passed a national security bill that allows without warrant arrest and kill citizens.
It’s clear there are people who don’t want South Sudan to exist.
We are almost reaching the point to disintegrate South sudan as a country.
Luk.advice all opposition and 64 tribe citizens across the country to deal with national security service where every you are.
Please don’t wait for the NSS to kill you.
Believe struggle and freedom.
Freedom is not free.”
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