EALA MPs during a past sitting in Arusha, Tanzania. Photo | File | Nation Media Group

The clerk of the national legislature says he has submitted a list of applicants who have expressed interest to represent South Sudan at the East African Legislative Assembly, EALA.

The application process for the East African Legislative Assembly ended on Tuesday.

“A 20-member committee will verify and ensure that the nominees have fulfilled the conditions of eligibility,” Alala Yunis told Eye Radio.

The requirements are: one must be a South Sudanese, literate, 18 years and above and has not been convicted of any crime for the last five years.

“Then, when they are done [with verification], the committee will return the nomination papers and the shortlisted candidates to the clerk for publication in the mass media,” Mr Yunis added.

He could not reveal the names and the number of the candidates.

Mr. Yunis said the shortlisted candidates will be asked to address their voters who are Members of the Parliament on 31 July.

Last month, South Sudan revoked the nomination of some nine members to the East African Legislative Assembly.

The nine were appointed through a presidential decree and were confirmed by the National Assembly in March.

However, the head of the Committee of Legal Affairs in the National Transitional Legislative Assembly, Dengtiel Ayuen, raised a motion to withdraw the parliamentary approval after a court in Tanzania rejected their swearing-in.