Amnesty International advised South Sudan legislature never to pass National Security Service Bill, 2014 in its current form, granting excessive powers to arrest, detain, seize property and conduct searches arbitrarily.
In a statement CRN obtained, Amnesty International South Sudan researcher Elizabeth Deng said the Bill grants the Security Service unrestricted powers which do not conform to the country’s Transitional Constitution and international human rights law and standards.
The researcher added that although National Security urgently needs a legal mandate, the law must ensure appropriate limits on its powers and provide individuals adequate opportunity for redress.
The rights group recommended discussion, review and alteration on excessive powers of arrest, detention, search and seizure, absence of provisions for accountability for National Security Service members and failure to provide guarantees required under international human rights law.