Guya Scopas Bethuel
The European Union has described South Sudan’s ongoing permanent constitution-making process as the country’s most significant achievement since the signing of the Revitalized Peace Agreement in 2018, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the journey toward a democratic and federal state.
Speaking at the opening of the two-day Civic Education and Public Consultations Event, “Primer on Federal Governance,” at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Juba, the European Union Delegation’s Charge d’Affaires, Lothar Jaschke, praised the progress made by the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) in advancing the constitution-making process.
“I would call it the greatest success story in South Sudan since the signing of the peace agreement in September 2018,” Jaschke said, adding that the European Union is proud to support the process alongside the Max Planck Foundation, which has facilitated workshops and produced educational materials on constitutional development.
The event brought together members of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), the Council of States, constitutional experts, and stakeholders to strengthen civic education and public participation in the NCRC-led constitutional consultations.
Jaschke noted that the constitution-making process, provided for under Chapter Six of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and the Constitution-Making Process Act of 2022, has gained considerable momentum in recent months.
He referred to a briefing delivered by NCRC Chairperson Dr. Riang on 2 July to the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), during which the commission expressed optimism that a permanent constitution could be finalized before the end of the Transitional Period if all stakeholders remain committed.
According to Jaschke, the role of Parliament will become even more important under a federal constitutional system. He urged lawmakers not only to pass legislation but also to strengthen oversight of government institutions and actively introduce legislation that addresses citizens’ needs.
“The Legislature has a key role in the constitution-making process and overall in the public life of South Sudan,” he said.
The EU envoy also encouraged legislators to use their constitutional mandate to hold the Executive accountable, particularly regarding the implementation of the Bill of Rights.
He pointed to constitutional guarantees, including the rights to life, education, healthcare, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, religious freedom, and protection from torture, emphasizing that these rights must be respected and promoted by all government institutions.
Jaschke questioned the country’s low public spending on essential social services, noting that health expenditure remains below one percent of national spending compared to a Sub-Saharan African average of around ten percent. He similarly highlighted concerns over education financing and the delayed payment of public servants, particularly health workers.
“You could ask these questions in the interest of the citizens of this country, in particular its children who want to and need to be educated,” he told lawmakers.
On the implementation of the peace agreement, Jaschke welcomed recent remarks by Presidential Affairs Minister Stephen Par Kuol Lomuro indicating that outstanding provisions of the Revitalized Peace Agreement could be carried forward into a post-election reform agenda.
He described the announcement as an important commitment to ensuring that critical governance and institutional reforms continue beyond the formal lifespan of the peace agreement.
“The reforms in the peace agreement are a promise for the future,” he said. “A statement that the Government is not walking away from these reforms, even after the agreement has expired, can only be welcome.”
He nevertheless encouraged the parties to accelerate implementation of the remaining provisions while the agreement is still in force.
Concluding his remarks, Jaschke thanked the organizers and reaffirmed the European Union’s continued support for South Sudan’s constitution-making process, describing it as a historic opportunity to lay the foundation for a peaceful, democratic and inclusive future.
“The constitution-making process is of immense importance to the future of the country and the lives of the South Sudanese,” he said. “History is in the making.”
The civic education and consultation forum forms part of broader public engagement activities led by the National Constitutional Review Commission to gather citizens’ views and build consensus on the content of South Sudan’s first permanent constitution.