Following the formation of the Revitalised Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) of South Sudan and subsequent swearing-in of members of parliament on the 2nd of August 2021, AEPI met with the new leadership of the legislature and some diplomatic missions and NGOs in Juba.
The aim was to re-establish contacts with the new parliament in order to gauge its priorities as they begin to discharge their mandate to embed the peace process in the governance bodies. This legislature has been entrusted with a pivotal role to oversee the implementation of the peace agreement. By so doing, they aim to lay a solid foundation for the post-transition parliament.
The implementation of the peace agreement has been a slow process, further weakening the parliament in general and its administration in particular. With 550 parliamentarians, many of whom have never sat in parliament before; there is a great need to understand and develop their role. Alongside this, the state of the parliament requires a complete overhaul of the administrative structure. Capacity building from the basics upwards is desperately needed.
AEPI’s Director of Programmes, Innocent Minega, and South Sudan Country Representative, Moses Bainipai, met twice with the Deputy Speaker in charge of parliamentary Affairs, Hon Oyet Nathaniel. In the second meeting, an agreement was reached to hold a workshop to draft a strategic plan 2021-2023 with the top leadership of TNLA in partnership with UNMISS during the first week of November.
To efficiently achieve its mandate, the leadership of the parliament has become aware of the lack of a joint mission and vision. The TNLA is the principal institution mandated by the constitution to steer the country along the path of democracy and the rule of law. Therefore, a clear strategic plan is vital for creating a unified momentum that will steer its functions and daily activities.
Photo: L to R: UNMISS Program Officer, Samuel Wambugu, AEPI Director of Programmes, Innocent Minega, Deputy Speaker in charge of parliamentary Affairs, Hon Oyet Nathaniel and UNMISS Rule of Law Director James Arguin.