CEPO welcomes progress on constitution-making Bill process
April 12, 2022 (JUBA) – Civil society organization, CEPO has welcomed South Sudan government’s decision to present the constitution-making process Bill to the Revitalized Transitional National Legislative Assembly (R-TNLA).
On Monday, the Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister, Ruben Madol Arol delivered the long-awaited Bill to the assembly for due consideration.
“Community Empowerment for Progress Organization program of citizens’ constitution constituency welcomes the positive move from the Justice and Constitutional Affairs ministry. This process is very important in securing a legal framework for directing the national constitution making process,” Edmund Yakani, CEPO’s Executive Director said on Tuesday.
Yakani said absence of a democratic constitutional governance system is one of the factors that pushed the country into years of deadly civil wars.
The bill was presented for further consideration before it can be enacted and signed into law by the president as required by the peace agreement.
The constitution-making process was launched by the president last year.
“The Revitalized Transitional National Legislative Assembly is required to speed up the readings for enactment of the constitutional-making Bill, 2022. The readings of the bill process should be free of any form of political control of opinion such as harassment, intimidation and bias,” said Yakani.
More than a decade after gaining independence from neighbouring Sudan, South Sudan is beginning the process of drafting a permanent constitution, which is expected to pave way for free and fair elections.
Once in force, the legislation is expected to provide a legal framework to govern the process of making a permanent constitution as well as define the form, powers, and functions of the mechanism factored in the process.
It will also guarantee good governance, constitutionalism and rule of law.
“Securing citizens’ driven constitutional making process is essential for south Sudanese because it acts as an alternative pathway for reconciling political difference on matters of public governance,” Yakani stressed.
He called for public participation in constitution-making process hearings.
Once it is passed by the assembly, the constitutional amendments will incorporate the September 2018 revitalized peace agreement into the national constitution.
A National Constitutional Amendment Committee was established in line with the peace deal to spearhead constitutional amendments in the country. The committee represents the parties to the peace deal that ended the five-year civil war.
(ST)