South Sudan Parliament Reopens Mining Bill Review
The Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) on Monday sent the Mining Act 2012 (Amendment) Bill 2026 back to the joint Committees on Mining and on Legislation and Justice. Lawmakers said the text needs further review, expansion, and wider consultation.
Public Hearings Seen as Essential for Natural Resources Law
Members argued that legislation touching natural resources should not move forward without broader engagement, including public hearings. The call reflected a view that mining rules can shape national revenues and community outcomes, and therefore require careful deliberation.
What the Amendments Aim to Change in the Mining Sector
Presenting the bill at second reading, Oresto Lupara of the joint committees said the amendments align with the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and the Transitional Constitution.
Lupara said the proposal would create a clearer legal framework for mining licenses, royalties, corporate taxes, and annual rent. He framed the goal as attracting investment, strengthening governance, improving transparency and accountability, and ensuring mineral wealth benefits South Sudanese citizens.
International Benchmarks: SDGs, EITI and Labour Standards
Lupara told lawmakers the bill was assessed as consistent with international standards, including the Sustainable Development Goals and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). He also cited International Labour Organization conventions, the Labour Act 2017, and the Land Act 2009 as reference points.
Committee Recommendations: Definitions, Administration, Capacity
The joint committees proposed several technical adjustments, including adding the words “Administrative Areas” where “States” appear in the draft. They also recommended clearly defining “Mining” in Section 5 of Chapter One.
They further suggested building a geological laboratory and a library to support the mining sector. The committees also urged the government to accelerate steps toward joining EITI, as provided in the R-ARCSS, to boost transparency and accountability.
Environment Policy and South Sudan Chamber of Mines Proposal
The committees called on the Ministry of Environment to fast-track presentation and enactment of the Environment Policy and Bill 2025. They cited what they described as a serious gap in environmental legal frameworks.
They also proposed creating a new sector institution, the South Sudan Chamber of Mines, as part of broader efforts to structure oversight and engagement in mining.
Lawmakers Push Back: “This Report Is a Bit Shallow”
Delmoi Abraham, an SPLM lawmaker, said the committees’ report lacked depth and required more enrichment. “First of all, this is not the bill we just passed. We need a critical look at every section so that we can benefit the people of South Sudan,” Abraham said.
He argued that because South Sudan has many minerals, bills on the sector should be reviewed carefully, deliberated, and expanded. He also supported the view that public hearings may not have been conducted, saying the matter appeared mainly in media coverage.
Motion Passed to Return the Bill for Deeper Scrutiny
Dustman Joice, MP for Lainya County in Central Equatoria State, seconded the motion to return the report to committee. “I stand here to second the motion that the report should be referred back to the committee for a thorough public hearing. They should also ensure that the minister attends the session,” Joice said.
Second Deputy Speaker Perimena Awerial, who chaired the sitting, formally referred the bill back to the joint committees. Awerial also directed that the responsible minister be present at the next presentation to the Assembly.