Seven Members of Parliament in the Upper Nile State Legislative Assembly have been dismissed due to their absence from the parliament for more than 12 sittings.

The dismissed MPs include Pal Ruac Doap, Yien Gach Ruey, Duop Tharjiath Nyual, Gatbel Riek Chuol, Gattong Nyak Gatluak, Stephen Pal Kuon, Stephen Tor Ruon and Mary Nyawech Puot.

The Speaker of the Parliament, Joseph Deng, says the whereabouts of the MPs is not known.

He says the lawmakers were terminated in accordance with the rules and regulations of the state assembly.

“This people were absent from the 15th of December when the war broke out in Juba and they never came back to the state,” said Hon Deng.

“They should have been dismissed earlier not now but because the state was in crisis, we could not sit and determine their fate.”

Mr. Deng says the names of the dismissed members of parliament have been forwarded to the state electoral committee.

The committee will determine whether to elect other new MPs in their positions or not.