South Sudanese lawmakers demanded clarity and transparency from the Foreign Affairs Ministry over reports it is in talks to host Palestinians from Gaza, with some legislators calling the alleged plan a violation of the country’s foreign policy.
The calls in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly came after reports last week from several international media outlets, including CNN and Al Jazeera, cited anonymous sources claiming discussions were underway between Israel and South Sudan. The country’s Foreign Ministry has denied the reports as “baseless.”
The conflicting accounts left parliamentarians divided and seeking official answers on Monday.
“My concern is on the foreign policy. There is a total violation of our foreign policy,” said lawmaker Luka Matanta Akuei, who represents Cueibet County. He pointed to a recent incident where the U.S. deported convicted individuals to South Sudan and argued parliament was bypassed on a matter of national security.
He urged that the foreign affairs minister be summoned to clarify the resettlement reports, which he called “troubling.”
Other parliamentarians pushed back, arguing that the assembly should not debate unconfirmed rumors.
The acting chief whip for the ruling SPLM party, Ahamed Muhammed Musa, opposed Akuei’s statement, noting that the foreign minister had already denied the reports. “We cannot work on rumors,” Musa said.
Assembly Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba sided with that view and ruled that the issue should not be discussed further until the Foreign Ministry provides definitive information.
“The minister is the only person that can tell us the reality about it. But for now, please don’t mention Palestinians again because we don’t have information about it,” Kumba said.
The transitional legislative assembly’s lack of information about the alleged plan to host Palestinians in South Sudan has also raised concerns among advocacy groups.
Ter Manyang Gatwech, executive director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, said the lack of clear public communication fosters misinformation and mistrust.
“As an organization committed to promoting human rights and access to information, we are deeply concerned about the lack of public communication,” said Manyang. “Withholding such critical information fosters misinformation, fear, and mistrust between the government and its citizens.”
Manyang further urged the executive to adopt openness and transparency, particularly on issues that could affect national stability and public welfare.
“Given South Sudan’s ongoing internal challenges and the vulnerability of its own population, the government must weigh its decisions carefully and ensure that its actions are guided by the best interests of its citizens,” he said.