By GPC Correspondent
South Sudan has begun national consultations on the proposed Constitution for the East African Community (EAC) Political Confederation, becoming the fifth EAC Partner State to undertake the process.
The consultations, launched in Juba on Thursday, will run until October 7 and seek views from citizens and key stakeholders on the proposed political confederation, which is intended as a transitional framework towards an eventual EAC Political Federation.
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South Sudan’s Minister of East African Community Affairs, Michael Makuei Lueth, said his country was committed to ensuring that the views and interests of its citizens are reflected in the constitutional process.
“As South Sudan, we are committed to participating actively in this consultation process and ensuring that the voices, aspirations and interests of our people contribute to shaping a Constitution that will guide the establishment of the EAC Political Confederation,” he said.
The consultations will be conducted by a team of constitutional experts coordinated by South Sudan’s Ministry of East African Community Affairs.
The team will hold public hearings in Juba, including in the Federal and Central Equatoria governments, as well as in Rumbek, Wau and Bor.
The EAC Secretary General, Stephen P. Mbundi, welcomed South Sudan’s participation in the process while also recognising the country’s ongoing political transition and democratisation efforts.
Mbundi congratulated President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s administration on progress in implementing the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.
“The East African Community stands in solidarity with the people of the Republic of South Sudan and wishes them a successful and peaceful election,” he said.
He said the consultations would involve a wide range of stakeholders, including government institutions, Parliament, the Judiciary, academia, civil society, the private sector, youth, women, persons with disabilities, faith-based organisations, political parties and the media.
The Chairperson of the Constitutional Experts Team and Chief Justice Emeritus of Uganda, Benjamin Odoki, said public participation would be central to the process.
“The Constitution belongs to the people of East Africa. We therefore encourage all stakeholders to actively participate and share their views so that the final document reflects the aspirations, interests, and expectations of our citizens,” he said.
EAC Deputy Secretary General responsible for Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, said South Sudan had experiences that could contribute to the constitution-making process despite being the newest EAC member.
He cited the country’s experience with regional solidarity during its struggle for independence, as well as lessons from dialogue, tolerance and peaceful dispute resolution during its civil war.
South Sudan’s Undersecretary in the Ministry of East African Community Affairs, Kawaja Kau Madol, reaffirmed the government’s support for the constitutional consultations and the wider EAC political integration agenda.
South Sudan becomes the fifth EAC Partner State to conduct national consultations on the proposed Constitution, following Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda.
The political confederation process dates back to 2004, when EAC Heads of State established the Wako Committee to examine ways of accelerating the establishment of an East African Political Federation.
The committee’s work was followed by consultations across the Partner States on the views and aspirations of East Africans concerning political integration.
At their 18th Ordinary Summit in 2017, EAC Heads of State adopted a Political Confederation as a transitional model towards an eventual Political Federation and directed the commencement of the process of developing its Constitution.
The regional launch of the constitution-making process was held in Entebbe, Uganda, in 2018 under the political leadership of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who was appointed by the Summit to guide the process.
