The opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), the faction allied to suspended First Vice President Riek Machar, on Sunday condemned the removal of 47 of its lawmakers from the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, calling the move a violation of the 2018 peace agreement and constitutional order.
In a statement issued after an emergency meeting of its Political Bureau in Juba, the group said the lawmakers were removed on May 15 in retaliation for a walkout from parliament on May 11, when they protested the tabling of an amendment bill to the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
The SPLM-IO described the dismissals as a “blatant violation” of procedures governing the appointment and removal of legislators under the peace deal, and accused the transitional authorities of using parliament to undermine the agreement.
It also said the move violated the Transitional Constitution, arguing that lawmakers have the right to support or oppose legislation as part of their mandate without facing punitive dismissal.
It added that the separation of powers was being eroded by what it called retaliatory action against dissenting members.
“The Political Bureau condemns the unilateral removal of the forty-seven members. This act by the ITGoNU/SPLM-IG is a blatant violation of the removal and replacement procedures of the R-ARCSS,” the statement said.
The group further argued that the National Legislative Assembly is mandated under Article 1.14.8 of the peace agreement to support implementation of the accord through legislation, but said it was instead being “turned into a weapon” against the agreement.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday issued a decree removing the 47 SPLM-IO lawmakers. A separate decree appointed new members to replace them.
The move follows growing tensions within the transitional government over proposed amendments to the 2018 peace deal, which ended a five-year civil war. SPLM-IO lawmakers walked out of parliament on May 11, saying the amendment bill was introduced in a non-inclusive manner.
In recent months, lawmakers perceived to be loyal to detained First Vice President Riek Machar have been replaced in parliament by members aligned with a rival SPLM-IO faction led by Peacebuilding Minister Stephen Par Kuol, whom Kiir recognizes as a key partner in the peace process.
International partners, including the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), have warned that any amendments to the agreement must be undertaken through inclusive consultations involving all signatory parties.
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