Michael Makuei, the Minister of Information and government official Spokesperson. | Photo: Lou Nelson/Eye Radio - April 26, 2023

Some national legislators on Monday voiced anger and vowed to summon the Government Spokesperson, a lawmaker himself, for saying the August House is not representing the will of South Sudanese to pass a constitution.

On Friday, September 22, Information Minister Michael Makuei said, the current parliament came about because of the 2018 peace deal.

He added that the Parliament which he himself is a member of which is comprised of appointees is not of the people.

He further said the South Sudanese people should be given the opportunity to elect their representatives who will come and pass the constitution.

“At present, we in the Parliament, we don’t represent the people of South Sudan. The Parliament comprised of appointees is not the Parliament of the people,” Makue said while addressing the media.

“This is the Parliament of the Agreement, and the Agreement does not represent the will of the people of South Sudan. So, that is our situation, that is our position, we are going for elections.”

“These people, the current Parliament do not represent the people of South Sudan as such, they need to go, we need to go for elections. The people of South Sudan should be given the opportunity to elect their representatives and it is the representatives of the people who will come and pass the constitution.”

Reacting to the statement during Monday’s sitting, some lawmakers said the information minister was misleading the public.

“On Friday, the Minister of Information was having a Press Conference. He was saying that the Parliament is not the representative of the people. So, the Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth is still misleading the public with wrong information,” said MP Juma Zachariah.

“I want to know, what he talks about every time in the media, is it what the government agreed or his own view? Because what I believe, what he is talking about all this time is just what he believes.”

On his part, Assembly Spokesperson John Agany criticized Minister Makuei for what he describes as “disqualifying” the house and terming it illegitimate.

Agany demanded the parliament to summon the Minister to make clarifications on the statements he made.

“This question which has been raised is a very important question. Makuei went on Media, and he disqualified and illegitimated this Assembly. This should be a motion without notice so that Makuei come and explain here,” said Agany.

“He has to come and explain, we are representing people and all the same, he is a Member of Parliament, he is representing his own people in this Assembly. Why is he illegitimating this Assembly?”

In response, the August house Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba asked the lawmakers to put the matter into writings before she summons the Minister before the legislature.

“The issue of the Honorable, Honorable Makuei, I did not hear what he said. Those of you heard it, can you put it down properly so that we can ask him to come and explain.”

“So, those of you who heard it, let me know what he said before I even ask him to come here.”