SSOA rejects proposed provision to give president power to appoint lawmakers

JUBA, SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – The South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) on Monday said that it rejects a proposed provision in the elections act in which the country’s president will have powers to appoint members of parliament.

This comes after members of the main armed opposition SPLM-IO led by First Vice President Riek Machar walked out of parliament after the ruling SPLM-IG faction under President Salva Kiir proposed a provision to give president powers to appoint 5% (17) of the lawmakers.

In a statement, SSOA chief whip in parliament Mahjoub Biel Turuk said that SSOA had agreed to all proposed provisions in the National Elections Act 2012 (Amendment Bill 2023) but rejects the proposal to give president more powers.

“SSOA agreed on 50% geographical constituencies,” Turuk said in a statement seen by Sudans Post “SSOA and other parties reached an agreement that 15% party list should include people with special needs and the youths. 3. SSOA and other parties agreed on 35% women affirmative.”

It added: “SSOA rejected the below proposal [that] 5% given to the President to appoint the extra seat of the parliament.”

On Monday, Machar’s faction accused the ruling faction under Kiir of trying to conduct unfair and undemocratic elections in the country after its majority lawmakers in parliament passed the elections bill in absence of the opposition.

The group said that it “Condemns in the strongest terms possible attempts by the SPLM-IG and its allies to make the process and the conduct of the National elections in South Sudan, undemocratic, unfair and not credible.”

“The proposal that the President be given extra powers to appoint additional number of the members of the Parliament takes away the mandate and sovereignty of the People of the Republic of South Sudan. (Art. 2. TCRSS 2011 (as Amended),” it added.