South Sudan presidential terms to be limited to two, each with five years  

JUBA – The ongoing National Dialogue conference that is being conducted in the capital Juba has resolved to endorse a proposal limiting presidential terms to only two, each with five years,  according to a senior official of the National Dialogue Steering Committee.

Based on the transitional constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011, as amended 2015, a president can run several times if he is nominated by his political party.

The National Dialogue was established under a presidential decree in 2016 to create a discussion platform between South Sudanese to resolve their differences.

The process has been criticized by the main armed opposition group, SPLM-IO, saying all that is being discussed in the process has been addressed by the revitalized peace agreement signed by President Kiir and opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, the member of the ND steering committee said the national conference has endorsed a proposal to limit presidential terms to two, each with five years, which he said will be defined in the new constitution.

“The National Conference has endorsed a presidential term limit. A President should not serve more than two terms each with five years,” the official who is not authorized to speak to the media told Sudans Post this afternoon.

The official said power struggle in South Sudan is becoming a culture, and said the 2013 SPLM crisis which triggered the bloody civil war could have been avoided had there been a presidential term limit.

“You see the SPLM factions who fought in 2013. That fighting could have been avoided because if there were two terms, some people who served since 2005 could have not sought another terms.” the official said.