National Legislative Assembly - Courtesy

The parliament has debated the draft National Holidays Bill, 2026, a private member’s bill seeking to establish a legal framework for the recognition and observance of national and religious public holidays in South Sudan.

The proposed legislation was introduced during a sitting chaired by the Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, Joseph Ngere Paciko, following concerns over the absence of a specific law governing public holidays in the country.

Presenting the Bill before lawmakers, the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Legislation and Legal Affairs, Deng Tiel Ayuen, said the proposed law is a private member’s initiative with implications for both the national and state governments.

Ayuen said the Bill seeks to provide legal clarity on the number of public holidays to be observed each year, their duration, and the procedures for national and religious commemorations across South Sudan.

He noted that although public holidays are currently observed in the country, there is no standalone legislation clearly defining their authority, application, and implementation.

“The Republic of South Sudan is a young country and lacks many laws, including a law governing public holidays, their authority and application. Article 83(2) of the Transitional Constitution of 2011 and Regulation 102(1) of the TNLA Conduct of Business Regulations empower members of Parliament to introduce private members’ bills. This Bill shall apply throughout the Republic of South Sudan, and the Labour Act 2017 shall be adopted.”

The committee chairperson said the proposed legislation aims to harmonize the observance of public holidays by providing a clear legal basis for their recognition and implementation at both the national and state levels.

If enacted, the law is expected to guide government institutions, employers, and the public on the official observance of national and religious holidays.

The Draft National Holidays Bill, 2026, will now undergo further legislative scrutiny, including committee review and debate, before lawmakers decide whether to pass it into law.