By Philip Buda Ladu
Lawmakers at the Transitional National Legislature (TNL) unanimously has passed an amendment Bill No.10 2022 changing the name of the national army SPLA from South Sudan National Defense Forces as earlier named in the Transitional Constitution (as earlier amended) to South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).
Dengtiel Kuur, the Chairperson of the Committee of Legislation and Legal Affairs at the Transitional National Legislature presented the report of the Committee on the National Transitional Constitution, 2022 (as amended) Amendment No.10 Bill 2022 at its second reading stage to the parliament in Wednesday’s ordinary sitting No.6/2022.
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Justice Ruben Madol Arol, earlier on 28th April, 2022 presented the Transitional National Constitution, 2011 (as amended) Amendment No.10 Bill to parliament in the first session of ordinary sitting No.2/2022.
“The Constitutional Amendment No.10 Bill 2022, which tackles only the name change of the national army was tabled for its second, third and final reading without much ado, did the legislators unanimously passed the bill in its totality just after some deliberations,” Dengtiel said.
The Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011 (Amendment) (No.10) Bill 2022 was enacted in accordance with the Provisions of Articles 55(3/b) and 58(1) of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011(as amended) by the TNL with assent of the President.
The Bill shall be cited as, “the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011 (Amendment) (No.10) Bill, 2022 and shall come into force on the date of its signature by the president”.
The purpose of the Bill is to amend Article 97(3) and 151(1) and (2) (as Amended) which changes the name “South Sudan National Defense Forces” to “South Sudan People’s Defense Forces” and to amend any related Article to it.
The Bill was drafted in accordance with Article 1.9.4 of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, (R-ARCSS) 2018 read together with Article 199(1) of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011 (as Amended).
Dengtiel the Chairperson of the Committee for Legislation and Legal Affairs at the TNL said, “Article 97(3) of the Constitution was thereby amended by deleting the name (South Sudan National Defense Forces” and substituting it with “South Sudan People’s Defense Forces” to read as the Commander-in-Chief of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and the Supreme Commander of all the other regular forces.
Meanwhile, Article 151(1) of the Constitution was amended by deleting the name “South Sudan National Defense Forces and substituting it with “South Sudan People’s Defense Forces”.
Additionally, Article 151(2) of the Constitution was also amended by replacing the name “South Sudan National Defense Forces with “South Sudan People’s Defense Forces”
With this passing of the Constitutional Amendment Bill No.10 2022 of changing the national army’s name from “South Sudan National Defense Forces” to “South Sudan People’s Defenses”, it will pave way for the tabling of the reviewed SPLA Act 2009 to the parliament for its amendment.
Hon. John Aganny Deng the Chairperson of Information at the R-TNLA and the spokesperson of the parliament affirmed that the Amendment Bill No.10 was a substantively small involving just a matter of changing a name which was agreed by the whole house.
“For that matter, the Act which was pending, the Act of the Army which was actually supposed to be amended will now proceed because it will be in unison with the Constitution, because the constitution now has been already amended and it will correlate the activities of the Act and it will be in conformity,” Aganny underscored.
The Information chairperson at the R-TNLA told journalists that the reviewed Army Act will hopefully be presented to the parliament next week.