The South Sudan Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) is set to elect lawmakers to the regional East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Friday. 

Jemma Nunu Kumba, Speaker of the national legislature formed a verification committee led by Hon. George Andrea Juma and 20 other members to verify contenders and prepare for the elections. 

The speaker revealed that the TNLA has to meet the deadline of 30th September per the EALA laws to avoid disqualification of South Sudan representatives to the regional parliament. 

“The committee that has been formed should take up their responsibility because, by the requirement of the law of the East African parliament, we have to complete this election within September that is why we have to complete it before the end of the month. If we don’t do that we will be disqualified as a country,” Nunu said.

According to Makuei Makuc Ngong, Clerk to the assembly, 31 candidates are vying for nine seats in the East African parliament. 

Among the applicants, 20 are independent candidates, five from the ruling Sudan People`s Liberation Movement, two from the SPLM/IO, one from SSOA, two from the Other Political Parties (OPP), and one from USAP.