A lawmaker in South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislative Assembly has voiced frustration after parliament declined to table his motion seeking to summon Vice President for the Economic Cluster, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel.
Machok Majong Jong, an SPLM representative for Gogorial West, revealed that he submitted the motion to the Clerk of Parliament in August, but it was excluded from the agenda. The matter resurfaced during the Assembly’s information session on September 15, where Machok raised concerns about accountability and transparency.
According to Machok, his motion was backed by Article 55(3)(a) and (b) of the Transitional Constitution (2011, amended), which empowers the legislature to summon public officials. He also cited parliamentary rules that obligate the executive branch to remain accountable to the House.
The lawmaker accused Vice President Bol Mel of poor economic management, corruption, and misleading the public over government salary payments. He further pointed to the presence of Ugandan People’s Defense Forces in South Sudan as a pressing national security concern.
“On August 26, I submitted my motion regarding urgent issues facing our nation. It sought to summon the vice president in charge of the economic cluster to appear before this House,” Machok told lawmakers.
He criticized Bol Mel’s handling of oil revenues and claimed that the promise of regular salary payments was false.
“The country is facing serious economic hardship. There’s no money in the banks, yet the vice president told citizens that salaries would be paid every 24th of the month, which has not happened,” he said.
Machok also questioned why the Assembly Business Committee (ABC) rejected his motion, noting that Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba had personally informed him of the decision.
Second Deputy Speaker Perimena Awerial, who chaired the session in Kumba’s absence, urged Machok to remain patient, assuring him that the ABC’s resolution would be shared once the Speaker returned from her official trip.
“Honorable Machok has the right to raise this issue, and it must be addressed,” Awerial said.
Kumba is expected to provide Machok with a signed copy of the committee’s decision upon her return to Juba.
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