European and AmericanEmbassies in Juba congratulated South Sudan on the inauguration of the Transitional Assembly and the Council of States on 30 August.
European Union, United Kingdom, Norway, France, Germany, Kingdom of Netherlands and Sweden and the United States described it as an important step on the pathway to a constitution and democratic elections.
They said in statement CRN got on Friday that the Assembly is an essential forum for open debate and discussion, where MPs should be able to freely express their views on behalf of the people of South Sudan.
The embassies call on the National Assembly to also play an important role in the constitution-making process.
“A credible and inclusive constitution process, reflecting the will of all South Sudanese, will be critical to the peace process and successful elections”, they stressed.
“In Parliament, as in South Sudanese society at large, freedom of expression and assembly must be protected. These are universal rights, enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan”, the Embassies added.
“We were grateful for the explicit reassurances provided by the Government of South Sudan in their statement of 25 July 2021 which stated that the “Government of the Republic of South Sudan upholds freedom of speech and press to its core”, they expressed.
“We urge the Government to uphold the commitments it has made to its people through R-ARCSS”, they noted.
The embassies pledged that “We will continue to support the Government to implement R-ARCSS, and welcome the progress that has been made towards that end”.
The embassies said government recent actions taken including threats to use live ammunition against peaceful protesters, harassment of journalists and media organisations, arrests of civil society representatives and the intimidation of South Sudanese citizens, are not compatible with its stated commitments.