The forum is the highest policy platform that brings together policy actors to South Sudan’s capital Juba to deliberate on a wide range of policy issues around governance, economy, security and peace.
One of the forum’s key objectives is to ensure institutions’ functionality for effective and efficient transformation and accountability to the population, especially those living in rural areas.
Speaking to Sudans Post on Sunday, Unity State Governor Joseph Nguen Manytuil said the annual gathering will bring together governors and chief administrators from South Sudan’s 10 states and three administrative areas.
He said the seventh governors’ forum will take place for five days from November 27 to December 1, 2023, and will be officiated and closed by President Salva Kiir Mayardit himself.
“This is to confirm that the 7th state governor’s forum will begin tomorrow, November 27, 2023,” he said. “It will be officiated by His Excellency the president of the Republic, Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit and we will be making deliberations on the situation of the governors’ forum.”
Manytuil said that the forum will deliberate on pressing issues ranging from the country’s fragile security, economy, peace, and stability.
He said that the forum holds significant importance in fostering cooperation and tackling pressing national concerns.
The governors’ forum first commenced in 2006 with support from the United Nations, Development Program (UNDP).
It was put on hold following the outbreak of war in December 2013, and would not take place until 2021 after the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Governor of National Unity (RTGoNU) the previous year.
Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), expressed ahead of the forum concerns and expectations.
He urged the president to ensure the restoration of stability at the grassroots level, highlighting several critical areas, including transparency in revenue usage, addressing political frictions between governors and their deputies, and promoting a peaceful environment amid the upcoming national elections in December 2024.