By Baraka John
The Support Peace Initiative Development Organization (SPIDO), with funding from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), has launched civic education and public consultation on the Constitution Making Process Act 2022 in Yambio on Thursday. The launch is part of a public participation in the drafting of South Sudan’s permanent constitution.
Hon. John Bariona, Western Equatoria State’s Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Acting Governor, graced the occasion as the Guest of honour. In his address, Hon. Bariona blasted the participants to distance themselves from harmful practices and suggest real issues affecting the Country to reflect in the constitution.
“To do this, we need to be collectively, avoid the tribalism, avoid things done on religious basis, and avoid things done on nepotism or friendly or whatever. So that our law can be a law of best use for us”. Bariona said.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Joseph Taban Abel Ngoro, Director General of Parliamentary Affairs in Western Equatoria State, emphasized the importance of citizen participation in the constitutional process. He described the permanent constitution as the supreme law that binds government organs, organizations, individuals, and the nation as a whole.
“We are grateful that SPIDO has come down to our people to educate and consult them. Every citizen’s voice matters in the making of our permanent constitution,” Ngoro noted, urging SPIDO to extend its outreach to other counties across the state to promote inclusive participation.
Mr. Morris John, SPIDO’s project officer, expressed gratitude to UNDP for their trust and support in implementing the project. He also acknowledged the cooperation of the state government and local stakeholders.
“A project we started last year some of you if you were there you already have the knowledge that we did it last year for almost six month. But this year is a continuation of the project itself” Morris said “The activities maybe the same but there are some activities which will be included this time we shall be having civic education and shall also be having what we call the public consultation for making the permanent constitution”.
The dissemination and civic education campaign brought together members of organized forces, civil society, and church leaders, among others. It will continue across Western Equatoria in the coming months.
The Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), signed in September 2018, laid out a roadmap for peace, including the creation of a permanent constitution for South Sudan. This process is part of the broader transitional arrangements aimed at stabilizing the country after years of conflict.
However, South Sudan is still in the middle stages of the constitution-making process. The hope is to complete it before the end of the transitional period, which has seen several extensions.
Some key provisions of the 2018 Revitalized peace agreement continue to face slow implementation due to political disagreements, logistical constraints, and insecurity in some regions.