The National Security Service (NSS) has been granted the power to make arrests and detentions without a warrant by legislation passed by the national parliament. This has prompted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Sudan to accuse certain Western diplomatic missions stationed in Juba of attempting to interfere in the internal affairs of the country.
The United States, the United Kingdom, the French, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, and Canadian embassies all stated in a joint statement on Wednesday that the bill would “constitute a significant step away from the opening of political and civic space, which is a prerequisite for genuine and peaceful elections to take place.”
“Enactment of the bill into law would be regrettable at any time, but particularly now when it would undermine the assertions that political and civic space exists,” the diplomatic missions stressed.
The foreign ministry “notes with regrets and great concern the unfriendly approach adopted by a group of missions by taking blatant steps in meddling in the internal issues related to matters of sovereignty of the Republic of South Sudan via social media and mainstream media without proper consultation with or awareness of the ministry or the relevant bodies in the country through the known abnormal diplomatic channels,” foreign ministry spokesperson Wol Mayar Ariec said at a press conference on Friday in Juba.
The declaration made public by Wol “constitutes a serious interference in the internal affairs of the Republic of South Sudan,” according to Wol. “Seems to be a blatant move designed to undermine and incite the public opinion against the authorities, which shows a clear intention to undermine the government,” he stressed in reference to the statement.
He expressed deep sadness that the aforementioned missions chose to operate in a way that went beyond accepted friendly diplomatic standards and decided to blatantly meddle in matters of national importance that are still being debated in the National Legislative Assembly.
Refusing to “deliberately involve in issuing such unfriendly statements and hostile positions that are not acceptable to the government of South Sudan,” the spokesperson advised the foreign missions accredited to South Sudan.
He did, however, add that the ministry is still open to receiving any concerns from foreign embassies regarding matters of mutual interest or engaging in any constructive manner.
The National Security Act 2014 (Amendment) Bill 2024 was approved by the South Sudanese parliament last week; President Salva Kiir must sign it into law within 30 days.
The bill’s sections 54 and 55 provide National Security personnel the authority to detain and arrest anyone accused of committing a crime against the state without a warrant.
Since section 7 of the bill defines these offenses very broadly and leniently, numerous people have been arrested and detained for lawful civic and political activity. Even though it’s required, detainees are rarely brought before judges within the allotted 24-hour period.
This is in advance of the inaugural election of the nation on December 22.
