By: Madrama James
King News, 13th Friday, September Juba – As the workshop on Federalism and Power-Sharing concludes on Friday at Palm African Hotel, participants will leave with a richer understanding of how these principles underpin effective governance.
During the official closing, Losuba Ludoru Wongo, Minister of Federal Affairs, urged the participants to ensure a constitution that protects the rights and property of the people are developed across the country.
LOSUBA-SBE01 “This workshop today is historic, as it marks the beginning of developing a federal constitution for the people of South Sudan. And please, ensure that we develop a constitution that protects the rights and properties of the people of South Sudan, not only in the regions.” Minister Lasuba said.
Losuba Ludoru Wongo, Minister of Federal Affairs, South Sudan (Photo: Madrama James, King News)
For his part, Dr. Riang Yer Zuor, Chairperson of the National Constitution Review Commission, said the engagement has been invaluable in deepening the commission’s understanding of how to foster collaboration with the public.
Dr. Riang added that, the diverse perspectives shared at the workshop has highlighted the importance knowledge that would help his commission during the civic engagement period.
RIANG-SBE02 “This workshop is for us to familiarize ourselves with federalism and all of its pattern aspects so that, when the time comes for us to interact with the people of South Sudan, we will be able to provide answers to their questions on federalism, so that their views are informed from the position of knowledge, that they acquire through interactions with us and others who will be conducting civic education, and public consultation.” Riang said.
Dr. Riang Yer Zuor, Chairperson of the National Constitution Review Commission, South Sudan (Photo: Madrama James, King News)
According to Dr. Katherin Maria Scherr, Managing Director of Max Planck Foundation, the workshop looked at South Sudan and its options for a federal future.
KATHERIN-SBE03 “We look at the questions on federal design, horizontal and vertical separation of powers, the difference between uniterism, decentralism and federalism, look at specific designations of acentric, centric, centralized and decentralized federalisms, cooperative and competitive federalism, and try to show all these with references, to practical experiences, shared by other federal countries in Africa and beyond. We look at Ethiopia, South Africa, Nigeria, Somalia, Switzerland, Malaysia, Germany, Austria and the United States. And most, we look at the country of South Sudan and its options for a federal future.”
Dr. Katherin Maria Scherr, Managing Director of Max Planck Foundation, (Photo: Madrama James, King News)
Olympiada Kosmopoulou, Political Affairs Officer at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), reiterated her organization’s commitment to supporting peace efforts.
OLYMPIADA-SBE04 “UNMISS stands ready to continue supporting the implementations of the revitalized agreement on the resolutions of conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, and in doing so, we will continue to support the National Institutions by enabling them to continue implementing the peace agreement.” Olympiada added.
Olympiada Kosmopoulou, Political Affairs Officer at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), (Photo: Madrama James, King News)
The National Constitutional Review Commission workshop on Federalism and Power Sharing was organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in collaboration with the Max Planck Foundation at Palm-Africa Juba from September 10 to 13, 2024.