Citizens in Eastern Equatoria endorse federalism system

JUBA – Citizens in Eastern Equatoria State have reached an agreement on the inclusion of federalism in South Sudan’s permanent constitution, allowing powers to be distributed to states and local governments.

Advocate Morris John Peter, the program officer for Support Peace Initiative Development Organization (SPIDO), said participants have raised a key demand for a federal system to be included in the upcoming permanent constitution.

“Participants agreed that the system of government for the Republic of South Sudan shall be a federal system with the devolution of powers to the states and local government levels,” said Peter while reading out recommendations during the closing of the two-day symposium on constitution making held in Torit.

“The subterranean resources shall be managed by the state government, and 10% shall be given to the community for developmental projects. Revenue collection shall be the responsibility of the state governments, and 40% of the generated income from revenue shall be remitted to the national government,” he said.

Peter stated that the participants revealed that the office of the president shall be maintained for at least four (04) years, adding that an eligible candidate will have to serve for only two terms upon success in the elections.

“Youths shall be given 40% representation in government positions since they comprise 70% of the total population in the country. It shall be clearly written into the permanent constitution that every person shall have the right to free and compulsory basic education in South Sudan to reduce the high rate of illiteracy among youths,” he said.

“He said that in order to address the current land disputes in South Sudan, the permanent constitution shall clearly indicate that land shall belong to the indigenous community and its usage shall be regulated by the state government.”

Peter noted that people with disabilities shall have the right to participate equally in decision-making and shall be given a 10% share to participate and be represented in government positions.

Peter added that participants also recommended a separate section of the law to include defilement in the permanent constitution to be reflected in the Penal Code Act for the country.

“There shall be a need to enact family law to resolve the gaps due to the absence of laws that regulate families in South Sudan. Compensation for girl children in cases of murder occurring within the communities of the state shall be abolished and clearly stipulated in the permanent constitution,” he said.

He concluded that the permanent constitution shall provide for the promotion of loan facilities to the most vulnerable groups of people by the government for economic empowerment.

The two-day training, held in Torit, Eastern Equatoria State, was organized by the Support Peace Initiative Development Organization (SPIDO) with funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Access to Justice, Security and Human Rights Strengthening Programme.