Jonglei State Transitional Legislative Assembly: Bol Deng Bol Calls for Immediate Reopening

• The Jonglei State Transitional Legislative Assembly in South Sudan has been in recess for nearly two years.
• Civil society organizations, including Intrepid South Sudan, are calling for the assembly's immediate reopening to restore accountability and ensure constitutional duties are met.
• The prolonged closure of the assembly has weakened government oversight and exacerbated challenges facing communities across the state.
• Reopening the assembly is necessary to address corruption risks, insecurity, and humanitarian needs in Jonglei State.

The executive arm of the government now operates without any legislative scrutiny,

The Jonglei State Transitional Legislative Assembly in South Sudan has been in recess for nearly two years, a situation that has raised concerns among civil society organizations. The executive director of Intrepid South Sudan, Bol Deng Bol, issued a statement on Tuesday reiterating the need for the assembly's immediate reopening. According to Deng, the prolonged closure has weakened government oversight and exacerbated challenges facing communities across the state. He pointed out that the state's executive is operating without legislative scrutiny, collecting and spending public revenues without an approved budget. The situation has been described as abnormal and unprecedented in South Sudan's transitional governance arrangements, which are based on the 2018 peace agreement.

South Sudan's transitional governance arrangements were established under the 2018 peace agreement, which aimed to bring an end to years of conflict. However, implementation has been hindered by repeated delays due to political disputes, insecurity, and funding challenges. The prolonged closure of the Jonglei State Transitional Legislative Assembly raises concerns about government accountability and the rule of law in South Sudan. Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware that the situation may increase corruption risks and undermine constitutional duties. The 2018 peace agreement emphasizes the importance of transitional governance arrangements in ensuring stability and security during the transition period.

The reopening of the Jonglei State Transitional Legislative Assembly is crucial for restoring accountability and allowing the state government to perform its constitutional duties. Bol Deng Bol stressed that the assembly's closure has enabled the executive arm of the government to operate without legislative scrutiny, leading to unchecked revenue collection and spending. This situation can undermine the rule of law and increase corruption risks, particularly in a context where insecurity and humanitarian needs continue to affect communities. The prolonged recess also raises concerns about shrinking civic space and ongoing communal conflicts. Reopening the assembly is necessary to address these challenges and ensure that the state government is held accountable for its actions.

Lawyers and compliance officers should watch for the potential impact on government accountability and rule of law in South Sudan, as the prolonged closure of the state legislative assembly may increase corruption risks and undermine constitutional duties.

Source: Original reporting via Activist reiterates calls for immediate reopening of Jonglei State Assembly