This article discusses the lower house of South Sudan which is the Council of states, the composition, speakers and role of the assembly.

The Transitional National Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Transitional National Legislature of South Sudan.

COMPOSITION

2011-2016

Following independence in 2011, the National Legislative Assembly comprises:

all persons who were members of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly; and

all South Sudanese who were members of the National Assembly of Sudan, by virtue of their membership in that Assembly.

Members of the Council of Ministers who are not members of the National Legislative Assembly must participate in its deliberations but do not have the right to vote. Persons who wish to become members of the National Legislative Assembly must fulfill the eligibility requirements set down by the Constitution for membership of the National Legislature.

Read: TRANSITIONAL COUNCIL OF STATES (SOUTH SUDAN)

2016-2021

As a result of a peace agreement that came into effect in 2015, the National Legislative Assembly was reconstituted as the Transitional National Legislative Assembly with 400 members. The membership is as follows:

332 members of the former National Legislative Assembly

50 members representing the armed opposition

17 members representing other parties and groups

1 member representing former detainees

2021-present

As a result of a peace agreement that came into effect in February 2020, a new Transitional National Legislative Assembly with 550 members was nominated in May 2021.[1] The membership is as follows:

332 members of the former National Legislative Assembly (mainly from Sudan People’s Liberation Movement)

128 members representing the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition

50 members representing South Sudan Opposition Alliance

30 members representing other opposition groups

10 members representing former detainees

SPEAKERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Name	Took office	Left office
James Wani Igga	2011	August 2013
Manasseh Magok Rundial	August 2013	4 August 2016
Anthony Lino Makana	4 August 2016	8 December 2019
Obuch Ojok	16 December 2019	May 2021
Jemma Nunu Kumba	2 August 2021	Incumbent

ROLE

The Transitional National Legislative Assembly exercises the following functions:
overseeing the performance of the National Government institutions;
approving plans, programs and policies of the National Government;
approving budgets;
ratifying international treaties, conventions and agreements;
adopting resolutions on matters of public concern;
summoning Ministers to answer questions of members of the Assembly on matters related to their ministries;
interrogating Ministers about their performance or the performance of their ministries;
approving appointments as required by the Transitional Constitution or the law;
casting a vote of no confidence against the Vice President and any Minister;
enacting legislation to regulate the conditions and terms of service of the Judiciary and its oversight mechanisms; and
performing any other function as determined by the Transitional Constitution or the law.