S. Sudan women groups want assembly speaker’s post

January 14, 2016 (JUBA) – A coalition of South Sudanese women have demanded that the position of speaker for the yet-to-be established transitional national assembly.

The group, in a strongly-worded petition acknowledged by18 women’s groups, said their demand was justified based on the fact that men occupy the positions of president, first vice president and the vice president in the transitional government.

“The executive branch of government is comprised of all men, therefore, balance [of power] will be achieved by appointing a female for the position of speaker of parliament,” partly read the petition also extended to Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

“South Sudanese women will continue to lead the call for peace and affirm our rights of participation, inclusion and consultation of decision-making processes at every level of government, including ambassadorial positions,” it added.

According to the compromise peace agreement signed by the two warring factions in August 2015 to end the 21-month long conflict, government would appoint a speaker hailing from the Greater Equatoria region. Also, there will be seven ministers, including four of them, to be appointed by President Salva Kiir’s government and three by armed opposition faction led by Riek Machar.

The agreement, mediated by East African regional leaders, further calls for respect to the 25% women quota representations in all departments of the government.

Rita Lopidia, a representative of the women activists, said the Juba government must implement the requirements of the agreement without being reminded.

“We are saying women are also tired of calling for this 25% women representation. This is constitutional and there is no need for women to beg or ask for appointments of women in these positions,” she told reporters in the South Sudanese capital, Juba.

The transitional national legislature is expected to be expanded from 325 to 400 legislators and a speaker will be selected at the first sitting of the assembly. On the other hand, the transitional government of national unity will be sworn next week as per a timetable released by Joint Monitoring and Evaluation commission (JMEC), which was tasked to monitor the implementation of the August 2015 peace agreement.

(ST)