(JUBA) – The Speaker of South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, has revealed that at least 15 Members of Parliament (MPs) have died since April 2024, most of them reportedly due to treatable medical conditions.
Speaking at the reopening of the Assembly on Wednesday, Speaker Nunu made an urgent appeal to the Ministry of Finance and Planning to prioritise the provision of medical allowances for lawmakers, stressing that lives are being lost due to a lack of access to adequate healthcare.
“Indeed, it is sad to recall that during the last session, the national legislature lost 15 of its members since April 2024,” she said. “Those with various medical conditions were not able to receive treatment to date. I therefore appeal for the inclusion of medical funds for the Honourable Members of Parliament in the top list of priorities of the Ministry of Finance,” she added.
Although the Speaker did not specify the illnesses involved, sources within Parliament have confirmed that the causes of death range from complications due to chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure to preventable infections. Many MPs reportedly lacked the financial means to seek early treatment either domestically or abroad.
The exact cost of the requested medical support has not yet been made public.
The Assembly, which is part of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU), has been active since early 2021 as part of South Sudan’s peace implementation process. Its members, drawn from various peace signatories, have been facing increasing economic pressures, including delayed salaries and limited access to healthcare services.
Speaker Nunu’s remarks have sparked debate over the welfare of public servants in general, particularly during a time when the country faces widespread poverty, inflation, and a fragile healthcare system that struggles to serve the broader population.
While medical allowances for lawmakers are often seen as a political or elite benefit, analysts point out that the issue highlights broader systemic challenges in public health access. South Sudan’s national healthcare system remains underfunded and understaffed, and citizens across the country face similar difficulties in accessing treatment.
Civil society groups have previously called for equitable healthcare reforms that benefit all citizens, not just political leaders. However, the Speaker’s remarks are a reminder that even national leaders are not immune to the weaknesses of the health system.
It remains to be seen whether the Ministry of Finance will respond to the appeal and allocate funding for medical allowances in the next national budget cycle.
