South Sudanese civil society activists have reported getting death threats in the wake of the National Security Act 2014 modification bill, 2024, which was controversially passed by the parliament on Wednesday.

The contentious sections 54 and 55, which permit arrests without a warrant and have sparked massive demonstrations and criticism from civil society and human rights organizations, are kept in place under this section.

The executive director of Community Empowerment for Progress, Edmund Yakani, voiced his worries on the growing threats.

“People claiming to be National Security Service agents have called me on WhatsApp more than three times with death threats. Similar calls are being received by seven of my members as well, primarily with threats of imprisonment or detention if they loudly oppose the National Security Act’s passage, Yakani added. “This is unacceptable.”

Yakani urged the nation’s leaders to take immediate action to counter these threats.

“I’m pleading with the nation’s leaders and bringing this up loud and clear. Yakani said, “Some people are threatening journalists and activists under the pretense of being National Security personnel.

Ter Manyang, the executive director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, was detained by security personnel in Parliament on Wednesday for almost an hour, during which they questioned his participation in the bill’s deliberations.

He added that he got a call late at night from someone posing as national security.

“I received a call from the NS person around 11:30 yesterday. “I asked them, ‘What are those specific issues?'” They replied that we needed to meet to discuss them. The call was abruptly cut off,” Manyang recalled.

The National Security Service’s director of public relations and spokesperson, David John Kumuri, refuted claims that some of his colleagues are endangering journalists and activists.

The office of public relations, which serves as a conduit between the general public, media, and civil society, was not informed of the claims, according to Kumuri.

Therefore, if these men’ accusations are true, the national security service has no policy of threatening the press or civil society. In order for the public prosecutor to be able to call, permit those who have abused their authority to present their names or voice their concerns.

At the Union of Journalists of South Sudan’s monthly breakfast meeting last Friday, Kumuri gave the journalists assurances that as the nation moves toward a democratic system of government, the National Security Service (NSS) of South Sudan will safeguard journalists and provide the public with access to information and freedom of expression.

He said, “We will ensure that journalists and the general public have access to information and freedom of expression.” “Press freedom is essential. The National Security Service’s mandate is to ensure the safety of all citizens, including journalists.

On Wednesday, during the parliamentary debate on the NSS Bill, national security personnel prevented journalists from filming, causing them to leave the room in protest of being harassed and intimidated.

Parliamentarians were at danger, according to Manyang, because of the extensive national security deployments.

“One hundred and twenty security guards were stationed inside the parliament for the bill’s deliberations. How do you believe the freedom of expression of these MPs’ opinions would work? We cannot hold the MPS responsible for the bill’s passage because of their fear of a danger. These individuals would target you if you speak up, Manyang asserted.

“Regarding the deployment of the National Security Service in the parliament, I don’t think the number he just mentioned is correct,” stated the national security spokesperson, disputing the deployment figures. As law enforcement officials, it is our duty to safeguard the parliament and its attendees in accordance with the laws of this nation. What danger does defending the parliament pose, then?

The parliament passed the contentious national security law, which upholds articles 54 and 55, which provide the national security agency the authority to make arrests without a warrant.

The president is now anticipated to sign the law within 30 days. In the event that the President does not sign the measure within 30 days, it will automatically become law.

President Salva Kiir has been informed by Human Rights Watch that the NSS Bill need to be vetoed since it is “the government’s preferred tool of repression.”