SPLM-IO lawmakers resume parliamentary sittings after boycott
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) under First Vice President Riek Machar have resumed attending sittings in the Transitional National Legislatives Assembly after protesting the controversial passing into law of the Political Parties Bill, 2012 in June.
This was revealed on Monday by Nathaniel Oyet Pierino, Deputy Speaker of the TNLA and senior figure within the SPLM-IO.
“The SPM-IO parliamentary caucus in its meeting dated 14th August, resolved to terminate its boycott of parliamentary business effective today (Monday) 15th August 2022,” Pierino told journalists in Juba after meeting the Chairperson for the information committee John Agany in Juba.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his First Vice President Machar last week reached consensus on the matter.
The SPLM-IO earlier on protested the changes in tfhe minimum number of members required at state level to register a political party which had been raised by SPLM-IG law makers from 300 to 500.
Pierino said all the bills passed in the absence of the SPLM- IO members will be reintroduced for debate in parliament, except the Political Parties Act has already been assented into law by President Kiir.
He revealed that the bills to be brought back for consideration include the Wildlife Service Act 2011 (Amendment) Bill 2022 and Constitution-Making Bill.
“We noted also that the Political Parties Amendment Bill has been assented to by the President and that would mean other procedural matters have to be fulfilled if the bill has to be returned to the house,” Pierino said.
John Agany Deng, Chairperson of the Information Committee welcomed members of the SPLM-IO back into the house after their absence paralyzed parliamentary work.
“We congratulate them, especially the leadership of the SPLM-IO for joining us physically,” Deng said.
“This is their political right and I want to make it clear that in this situation win-win or loss-loss solution, it is a matter of coming together and using consensus,” he added.
The parties to the 2018 revitalized peace deal earlier in August extended the transitional period that was meant to elapse in February 2023 till now February 2025.
They cited delays in implementing critical pending tasks such as the graduation of the 83,000 unified forces and others.
