Minister of Information, Michael Makuei addresses media in Juba. [Photo by Eye Radio].

The national security bill 2023 mandates the National Security Service to arrest a person found committing a crime or involved in subversive activity without an arrest warrant.

This comes weeks after the presidency scraped a provision within the national security act that allowed the agents to arrest people without an arrest warrant.

The decision was met with a mixed reaction from members of the public with some saying the powers should be maintained.

“The national security has other powers in case of any subversive activity discovered, they have the arrest and take to the people to the appropriate authorities,” said Michael Makuei, the government spokesperson.

The bill authorizes the security apparatus to take the suspect to the appropriate authorities.

Rights groups had accused the National security Service of widespread human rights abuses and said the previous law was a means to silence government critics.

Information Minister Michael Makuei told reporters after Friday’s Council of Ministers that the bill was passed after President Salva Kiir and His First Deputy agreed on the amendment.

So, the principals have agreed and this bill, National Security Service Act 2014 amendment 2023 was also passed and the Minister was directed to take this bill also to the national legislative assembly for consideration.”

According to Makuei, the bill also grants any citizen the right to arrest any crime suspect.

The cabinet has directed the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Ruben Madol to present the bill before the national legislature for deliberation.

“ Not only that,  but the power of arrest is with every South Sudanese,

“Any citizen found to be committing an offense for which a person can be arrested without a warrant, any citizen is entitled to the right to arrest that person and take him to the police or to the appropriate authorities as the case may be,” he said.

 The Cabinet Ministers also passed the Public Financial Management and Accountability Act 2011 amendment Bill 2023, the Bank of South Sudan Act 2011 amendment bill 2023, and the Banking Act 2012 amendment bill 2023.