South Sudanese lawmakers sworn into office

By Benjamin Takpiny

JUBA, South Sudan (AA) - Members of South Sudan's two reconstituted legislative chambers were sworn into office on Monday.

Speaking after the inauguration ceremony of lawmakers in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, newly appointed speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba pledged to unite legislators in executing their tasks.

"No one should hesitate to approach my office should you have any burning point which is useful for nurturing peace in our beloved country, or make the parliament do its work more efficiently," she said.

"This is a big privilege for each and every one of us to be able to serve the people of South Sudan at this level," she said, adding that the South Sudanese are "putting their hope in us and it is therefore up to us by committing ourselves to the peace agreement both to go on and bring our people out of misery and unnecessary lives or by our willingness and failure to implement the peace agreement."

Meanwhile, the speaker of the Council of States, Deng Deng Akon, called upon all members of both chambers to cooperate and focus on implementing a landmark peace agreement signed between the government and opposition in 2018.

"With the national parliament and Council of States, the (formation of) government is now complete," he said, underlining the role of the legislature in running the government and having a functioning administration.

"This is a historical moment for our country because our people have suffered for a long time and it's our responsibility to get the trust bestowed upon us via the peace agreement. We should work speedily to gain this trust for our people."

He said that upholding the peace agreement was the only hope for the country's people and that its prompt implementation will restore international trust in South Sudan.

"Our country is still at a crossroads and our people are suffering from poverty, disease, and rampant insecurity across the country. We can overcome these challenges if we trust each other and work with good faith."

"With peace, deflection and tribal politics have no place in our house. We must carry out our responsibilities as one people under one government," added Akon.

In May, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit reconstituted the national parliament after a year of the formation of a unity government in the East African nation, in accordance with the peace agreement.

The revitalized peace agreement signed in September 2018 provides for the reconstitution of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and Council of States.

According to the agreement, the number of members in the assembly will be expanded from 400 to 550 and the Council of States from 50 to 100.

The former transitional government had nominated 332 members of the chambers, while the SPLM-IO under former rebel leader and now first vice president Riek Machar nominated 128, and members and the South Sudan Opposition Alliance, or SSOA nominated 50.

Other political parties have 30 representatives and the former detainees group has 10.