(JUBA) – The Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) on Wednesday unanimously adjourned a sitting that had been scheduled to discuss President Salva Kiir’s speech delivered during the opening of parliament last month. The adjournment was prompted by the absence of ministers, whose participation legislators deemed essential for the debate.
Lawmakers emphasised that the president’s speech is a major policy document requiring the presence of executive members, some of whom are also parliamentarians.
In his address last month, President Kiir outlined a wide range of issues, including the need for lasting peace in South Sudan. He urged holdout opposition groups to embrace dialogue and reconciliation, framing this as critical for national unity as the country prepares for elections in 2026.
Elizabeth Adut, a member of the SPLM Party representing Northern Bhar el Ghazal State, stressed before the session that ministers must attend to answer questions that may arise from the speech. She said that at least half of the ministers should be present, yet only five appeared in the House.
“Ministers should attend the sitting to answer questions because the president’s speech is very important,” she said. “We have thirty-five ministers and only five ministers appeared, which is not good.”
Adut called on the House to adjourn the session to a later date when more ministers would be present.
Her views were echoed by Gatkout Wat, a member of the SPLM-IO, who said the ministers are the implementers of the president’s speech and should be in attendance.
“This speech of the president is the policy of the nation, which is why we need all our ministers to be here. It is not a normal sitting,” he said. “The president delivers the speech to the nation through parliament, and we need our ministers to be here.”
Farouk Gatkuoth, the SPLM-IO Chief Whip, also welcomed the adjournment, noting the importance of executive participation in implementing presidential policies.
“I concur with what has been said by my colleagues because the implementation of those policies is not done by this August House, but by the executive,” he said. “We have heard enough of the public accusing this parliament of being a rubber stamp, leaving the executive. Let us not expose ourselves this time.”
Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba concluded the session by declaring that the president’s speech will be discussed on another day when at least half of the ministers are present.