By Deng Ghai Deng
Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) has issued an apology to the National Security Service (NSS) following accusations made by First Deputy Speaker Oyet Nathaniel Pierino regarding travel obstruction.
On Wednesday, Oyet claimed he was prevented from leaving the country at Juba International Airport by the NSS, acting under the instructions of Gen. Akol Koor Kuc, Director General of the Internal Security Bureau.
During an event commemorating the International Day of Access to Information on Thursday in Juba, Oliver Mori Benjamin, chairperson of the specialized committee on information in the TNLA, clarified that Deputy Speaker Oyet had not followed proper leave procedures, having signed his own leave form.
Mori stated that the parliament leadership had resolved to apologize to the NSS chief for the false accusations.
“We have all resolved that we extend our apology to the National Security Service (NSS) and especially to Gen. Akol Koor who was not even involved in this matter. We accept our mistakes also as parliament; if anyone of us has done a mistake, we will say this wrong,” Mori said.
In response to Oyet’s statement, the NSS Internal Bureau explained that the First Deputy Speaker was blocked from travelling abroad due to “self-permitted leave.”
NSS spokesperson and director of public relations, David John Kumuri, noted that Oyet had only presented a document signed by himself in his capacity as the First Deputy Speaker, which the NSS deemed as unilateral leave and insubordination.
Mori further mentioned that the leave request form has now been duly signed by Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba, granting Oyet the necessary authorization to travel.
Oyet has since travelled to Kampala to visit his family.
South Sudan’s National Legislative Assembly on July 3, 2024, amended the law governing the National Security Service (NSS), in ways that will further entrench the agency’s longstanding abuses.
Parliament passed amendments to the 2014 National Security Service Act after a four-hour debate by a vote of 274-114 that will allow the agency to continue arresting or detaining people without a warrant.