South Sudan’s National Constitutional Review Commission has launched an extensive public consultation campaign, marking one of the most significant phases in the long-awaited constitutional transformation process. The campaign aims to lay the groundwork for drafting a permanent constitution that will replace the transitional document in force since the country’s independence in 2011.
The initiative, which follows the reconstitution of the commission in November 2023, seeks to gather opinions and proposals from citizens across the ten states and three administrative areas over the coming month. It forms part of the government’s efforts to establish a system of governance that reflects the people’s aspirations and national unity.
Awut Patrick Charles, Chairperson of the Committee on Civic Education and Public Consultations, stated that the ongoing constitutional process is designed to engage citizens directly in shaping the country’s future system of government. He noted that the commission aims not only to educate people about their rights but also to ensure that citizens’ voices form the foundation of the new constitution. “This is the people’s constitution,” he said, stressing that popular participation is not a symbolic act but the core of the democratic process South Sudan seeks to strengthen.
At a press conference in Juba, the commission’s Secretary-General, John Nathana Abraham, described the constitution-drafting process as “a living embodiment of the sacrifices and struggles of the people of South Sudan.” He emphasized that the future constitution should reflect citizens’ will and vision for a dignified life. Abraham announced the deployment of four field teams to Eastern Equatoria, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, and Lakes states to engage local authorities and community leaders in collecting public input.
The field teams have met with state legislative assemblies, members of the judiciary, civil society organizations, and representatives of women, youth, and persons with disabilities. The consultations address key issues such as federalism, resource sharing, citizenship, and the separation of powers — all seen as essential to building a political system that mirrors the country’s geographic and social diversity.
Abraham expressed gratitude to international partners supporting the constitutional process, including the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). He noted that this support strengthens the commission’s ability to carry out its mandate efficiently and reflects the international community’s commitment to South Sudan’s stability and democratic development.
The National Constitutional Review Commission was originally established in January 2012, but its work was disrupted by years of instability. In November 2023, President Salva Kiir Mayardit reconstituted the commission in what was widely viewed as a long-awaited revival of the constitutional pathway. Abraham underscored the historical significance of this moment and called on all parties to work together to deliver a constitution that embodies the people’s will and fosters national unity, stressing that success depends on cooperation between state institutions and citizens alike.
The public consultations are scheduled to continue for one month, during which data and proposals will be collected from across the country. The collected input will then be compiled in Juba to inform the drafting of the new constitution, a document expected to mark a turning point in South Sudan’s history toward a stable and lasting system of governance that reflects citizens’ aspirations for peace and development.
