The Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Legislative Assembly is set to reconvene on June 17, 2025, after a scheduled recess, with budget discussions, education challenges, and impending floods topping the agenda.
The assembly went on recess on March 17, 2025, in line with its code of conduct, which mandates a break after every three months of active sessions.
According to the assembly’s spokesperson, Garang Kuol Mabior, members are preparing for a busy session, with plans to summon the Ministers of Finance and Education for presentations.
“We intend to call the Minister of Finance to present the budget. We also want to address issues concerning the education sector and the looming flood crisis in the state,” Kuol told Standard Zone News in a phone interview on Wednesday.
The upcoming session takes place amid national political uncertainty following recent splits within the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), a key signatory to the 2018 peace agreement.
The political turbulence has seen some SPLM-IO leaders go into exile after the house arrest of their chairman, Dr. Riek Machar, who awaits an investigation.
The state, if reopens, will be the first functional assembly, even the national legislature, remains closed following recent political dispute.
However, public concern is growing over whether state and national parliaments can maintain full representation in the wake of these developments given the absence of many SPLM-IO members to meet the quorum required to address critical national and state matters effectively.
As the June sitting approaches, attention will be focused not only on legislative priorities but also on the broader question of political inclusivity and functionality within the unity government.
