Juba, South Sudan,
July 28, 2021 – The government of South Sudan has postponed the swearing-in of the newly-appointed legislators to Monday.
In a press statement issued by the Minister of Presidential Affairs Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, the postponement is to honor the national martyrs’ day.
“In honour of commemoration of Martyrs Day, which falls on Friday 30th July 2021, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs hereby announces that the swearing-in of the Honourable Members of Revitalized Transitional National Legislative Assembly, which was scheduled for Friday, 30th July 2021, at Freedom Hall at 11:00 am is hereby rescheduled for Monday, 2nd August 2021,” Dr. Barnaba said.
On Wednesday, the Makuc Makuc Ngong, the Clerk of Parliament announced that 550 legislative appointees will take the oath of office together with their 100-member upper house counterparts on Friday 30th July 2021.
“The Office of the Clerk to the Transitional National Legislature, RSS hereby announces that the swearing-in of the Honourable Members of the Two Houses is scheduled for Friday, 30th July 2021 at Freedom Hall at 11:00 am,” Makuc Makuc Ngong, Clerk of the Transitional National Legislature on Wednesday.
Makuc directed the soon-to-be crowned lawmakers to be at the venue two hours before the main event to finalize other preliminary activities.
“Therefore, Honourable Members are asked to report to the venue for registration for registration at 09:00 am,” the statement says.
The postponement comes after President Salva Kiir deferred the swearing-in ceremony initially slated for 9th July 2021 when the country commemorated its 10th Independence Anniversary.
The Members of Parliament for the Lower House were appointed by President Salva Kiir Mayardit in May this year followed by the subsequent appointment of their Upper House counterparts a month later.
The Revitalized Government of National Unity has come under intense pressure from both the international and regional communities for failing to expedite the swearing-in of lawmakers.
Domestically, political commentators have been critical about the delay of the process which kept the parliament on a standstill for years.
