FILE PHOTO: Hon. John Agany, Chairperson of Information Committee at the TNLA - Courtesy/March 2022

National members of Parliament on Wednesday moved the National Security Service Act 2014 (Amendment) Bill 2023 to the third reading after removing the article on arrest without warrant.

This is according to John Agany, the Chairperson of the Information Committee and spokesperson of the national legislature.

He told Eye Radio that the lawmakers deleted articles 54 and 55 of the National Security Service Act, 2014 amended in September 2019, that gave security agents virtually unfettered authority to arrest and detain suspects, monitor communications, and search and seize property.

This was based on the resolve between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his First Deputy President in February this year.

The bill was presented by the Chairperson of the Specialized Committee on National Security and Public Order.

Hon Agany pointed out that Sections 54 and 55 of the National Security Service Act which give the security personnel powers to arrest, detain, monitor communications, and search and seize property without a warrant of arrest have been removed.

“The national security bill had some issues, one of them is article 54 and article 55 which grand the national security personnel to arrest any person in South Sudan with a warrant or without warrant of arrest, this has raised a lot of confusion,” said Agany.

“Many people have been uncomfortable with those grantees and as time went on the two principles discussed the issue and it seems that the two contentious clauses have been removed and the principles in the presidency have agreed to remove those two.”

According to Agany, the bill was passed to a final reading expected next week on Monday.

Agany also said the August house will next week deliberate on the Elections Act in its second reading.