Council of ministers approves elections laws

By Oketayot Santo

The South Sudan`s cabinet on Friday approved the national elections bill, and tasked the minister of justice and constitutional affairs to table it before the parliament for consideration.

Addressing the media after the cabinet meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, the Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth they have rectified some of the outstanding issues in the bill that could not be ratified by the National Constitutional Amendment Committee.

He revealed that some of the outstanding issue in the bill was mapping of the constituencies and has now has been agreed upon by the cabinet.  

He revealed that the constituencies have been allocated as, 50 percent to the geographical constituency, 35 percent to the women constituencies, 10 percent to the party list, 3 percent to the youths and 2 percent to persons living with special needs.  

“The 50 percent geographical constituencies there was no problem it is individual constituency every can go and contest if they win so be it, for the others the discussion was how will the representation be made and it was agreed that there should be the 35 percent for women should be in accordance with the party list and the 10 percent party list and 3 percent of the youth should be according to the party list as well as 2 percent for people with disabilities should be the party list” Makuei said 

Makuei said after deliberation, the justice minister was directed to present the bill to the parliament for consideration.

“After a thorough deliberation this election law was passed by the cabinet and the minister of justice directed to table it immediately before the transitional national legislative assembly for consideration so that we start the process” he stressed.

The government spokesperson said the election bill is important bill as it will regulate the conduct elections “as we are talking about going for elections then there is need for us to have the election law amended so that it conforms to the provisions of the agreement and start the preparation for the election”