August 13, 2013 (JUBA) – Telar Ring Deng's bid to become South Sudan's next justice minister suffered a major blow on Tuesday after majority of the country's lawmakers rejected his appointment.
![JPEG - 11.3 kb]()
- Telar Ring Deng (File photo)
At least 150 lawmakers voted against him, 97 supported his bid while 11 abstained during the secret balloting presided over by the speaker, James Wani Igga.
The vote bring to an end weeks of controversy and speculation that surrounded Telar's bid to hold what is regarded as one of the country's key ministries.
Lawmakers, prior to voting, exchanged odd views over the matter, before journalists were forced to leave the fully-packed national assembly.
Earlier on, some MPs, mainly from the governing Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) questioned the constitutionality of President Salva Kiir authorising a constitutional post holders to single-handedly approved huge public funds without involving relevant institutions.
Kiir, had written to the 11-member vetting committee of the assembly, saying he authorised Telar on behalf of government to approve $600m meant to acquire land meant for national security service.
The issue had proved a stumbling block to his approval before a committee considered to be very neutral in its work of vetting the new ministers and deputy ministers.
More details to follow shortly.
(ST)