At least 85 members of parliament in Eastern Equatoria State were sworn in to operationalise the state government.

The lawmakers are drawn from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), and Other Political Parties (OPP).

The speaker of the state assembly in Eastern Equatoria State has urged the members of parliament to cooperate with the executive in order to achieve the objectives of the revitalised peace agreement.

Severino Maira Janus made the statement during the inaugural ceremony of the oath-taking of the MPs in the state capital of Torit on Wednesday.

“I expect all of you to have a good working relationship with the three wings of the government. Please give breathing space to our citizens to receive needed basic services,” Janus said.

According to information from the governor’s office, only 85 MPs were sworn in yesterday.  15 others were absent; eight members of the Other Political Parties (OPP) are also yet to be named.

Under the revitalised peace agreement, the reconstituted state parliament, which is made up of 100 MPs from all political parties, will now assist the state government in enacting state legislation and performing its oversight duty of overseeing the executive’s work.

Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong Lojore appealed for unity among the MPs, urging them to put their differences aside and work for the state’s people.

“We must all be united when it comes to the development of our state,” the governor urged.

He added: ‘‘Peace, unity, and prosperity are the missions we have undertaken. It is the mission that brought us together here today at the forefront of the struggle for development and delivering service to our people. “

Lobong promised that his administration would work cooperatively with the assembly for the welfare of the people of Eastern Equatoria State.