By Alan Clement
The Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) is facing renewed calls for members to stop taking guns to the house of the chamber.
Some of the members raised concerned that some Members of Parliament move into chamber with their body guards or weapons despites being told to leave them at the gate.
According to the rules in parliament all weapons are suppose to keep at the gate by the Assembly guards.
Speaking during the 19th Ordinary Sitting, Victor Omuho Ohidei a member of parliament representing Torit in Eastern Equatoria State, expressed that bring weapons inside parliament is unlawful that need to be avoided.
He raised an alarm over the presence of firearms in the chamber, warning that it undermines the safety of unarmed members.
“You should feel safe in the parliament, but if you come with guns, how safe are those of us who do not have guns?” he asked.
He called on the MPs to cease from moving with weapons to the house of the representatives adding that it is no weapons zone.
Presiding over the sitting, 2nd Deputy Speaker Parmena Awerial acknowledged both concerns, stressing that the Speaker had repeatedly warned members not to bring weapons into parliament.
“That don’t bring guns to the premises of the Parliament that one was raised several times by the Right Honourable Speaker here,” Awerial told the August house.
“Whenever you bring the gun, if you have got your bodyguards, keep it there. Let it remain. And then when you go, you go and get your gun back,” he advised.
Awerial admitted that many MPs are former soldiers who struggle to leave firearms behind, but urged them to embrace civilian politics. On absenteeism, he confirmed that records would be reviewed and that members absent for nine consecutive sittings would face questioning.
“If there are people who stay for nine sitting days, nine sitting sessions, they have to be questioned. They have to be terminated from the parliament. And that is a law,” he said.
He added that some absences were due to medical treatment or official permission, but conceded that others register attendance only to leave immediately.
The debate underscores growing concerns about discipline and safety within South Sudan’s legislature, as the TNLA seeks to strengthen its credibility during the country’s fragile transition.
Victor Omuho Ohidei accused colleagues of neglecting their duties and urged the Speaker to enforce disciplinary measures. He cited parliamentary rules that suspend remuneration after nine consecutive absences without permission and argued that members missing 12 sittings should lose their seats entirely.
“If a member is absent without prior permission or acceptable reason to the Speaker for 12 sittings, he shall lose the membership of this House,” Ohide declared.
“When are you going to dismiss some of us who have not been here? Don’t we have other businesses outside?” he asked.
He further called on the Speaker to deploy staff to track attendance since the Assembly’s inauguration, insisting that accountability was long overdue.