South Sudan Speaker Urges Executive to Respect Parliamentary Summons

(JUBA) – The Speaker of South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), Rt. Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, has expressed concern over increasing defiance by members of the executive branch towards parliamentary summons. As Parliament resumed business for the new session on Wednesday, she criticised the tendency by some officials to disregard invitations from the legislature, warning that such behaviour undermines government accountability and public trust.

In her address during the reopening ceremony attended by President Salva Kiir and senior officials, Speaker Nunu stressed that parliamentary summons should not be seen as confrontational, but rather as an opportunity for collaboration between arms of government.

“Allow me, Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, to address a matter of concern: the emerging perception in some quarters that legislative summons are confrontational, personal attacks or unnecessary interference,” she said.

Her statement came in response to repeated non compliance by executive officials in 2024, including several ministers who failed to honour calls to appear before Parliament on matters relating to the economy, public service delivery, and the 2018 peace agreement.

Nunu highlighted that for the government to respond effectively to pressing national challenges including the persistent economic crisis, peace implementation delays and weak public services, there must be improved coordination and respect between the executive and the legislature.

She urged officials to view parliamentary summons as a constructive process that allows public servants to present the realities they face, outline achievements, and seek legislative support where needed.

“Responding to a parliamentary summons should be viewed as an opportunity. It allows public servants to highlight the realities they navigate, share their accomplishments, and draw attention to the areas in need of support,” she added.

Nunu reiterated the Assembly’s constitutional mandate to provide oversight over public institutions, insisting that this role will be actively exercised in the current session. She appealed for cooperation from all public officials to help improve governance.

“Ultimately, this enhances public trust and strengthens the relations between our institutions and the citizens they serve,” she said.

The issue of non compliance with parliamentary summons has a recent history. On 14 August 2024, a TNLA session was stalled after several ministers failed to appear before the House to answer questions related to the hunger crisis and national economic decline. Among those who missed the session were ministers of finance and planning, petroleum, agriculture and food security, trade and industry and others overseeing key service and development sectors.

The Commissioner General of the South Sudan Revenue Authority was also among those summoned but absent. Their failure to appear brought the session to a halt and was widely viewed as a disregard for Parliament’s oversight powers under Article 82(1) of the Transitional Constitution, which empowers the Assembly to summon any official except the President.

Adding to calls for accountability, civil society actor Ter Manyang, Executive Director of the Centre for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), urged Parliament to immediately summon key ministers over matters of national interest. These include the Ministers of Cabinet Affairs, Finance and Planning, Defence and Veterans Affairs, and National Security.

Manyang said the Minister of Cabinet Affairs must explain why Council of Ministers meetings have stalled. He called on the Minister of Finance and Planning to account for the liquidity crisis and the worsening economic outlook, where salaries and essential services remain severely affected.

In addition, the ministers of Defence and National Security are being urged to clarify the status of ongoing military operations, including the reported presence of foreign troops in parts of South Sudan.

“The people of South Sudan deserve answers; Parliament must exercise its oversight role and take immediate steps to investigate these issues transparently,” Manyang said.

Ministers Absent from August 2024 Parliamentary Summons