A national Member of Parliament, Reath Muoch Tang, is protesting his removal from the National Assembly, claiming the decision is a direct violation of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.
Tang, who represents Nasir County on the SPLM-IO ticket, was revoked from his position by a presidential decree announced on state-owned television (SSBC) on Monday. The decree did not provide a reason for his dismissal.
In a statement obtained by the Standard Zone News, Tang labeled the decision as “unilateral and unconstitutional.”
He specifically cited Article 1.9.2.1 of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), which he says requires consultation with the member’s political party before their removal.
“First and foremost, the decision is unilateral and unconstitutional, and a clear violation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), specifically Article 1.9.2.1, which clearly states that a Member of Parliament appointed through the ticket of a particular party cannot be removed without the knowledge and consultation of that party,” Tang stated.
He also appealed to his supporters to remain strong and clam, vowing to continue serving his constituents.
“To my supporters and constituents: do not be discouraged. This is not an end; it is a beginning. I remain with you, and I will continue to serve you, in Parliament or outside of it,” the MP said
While presidential decrees often omit a reason for dismissal, observers are linking Tang’s removal to a recent controversy involving the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where Tang attended an IMF meeting in New York in June this year.
He claimed to have to have represented South Sudan, despite not being part of the official government delegation.
The official government delegation’s travel to the IMF meeting was delayed due to visa issues following a diplomatic row with the United States.
Tang maintains that he had already represented the country at the said meeting, a claim that brought him into a series of heated discussions with the official delegation, who denied his authorization to attend.
