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#Juba: Al-Wadi Newspaper
Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation in South Sudan, Lothar Jaschke, has welcomed the progress made in the permanent constitution-making process, describing it as a renewed historic opportunity to unite the country, strengthen peace, and build a stable state based on the rule of law and respect for human rights.
Jaschke called on the government to continue supporting the constitution-making process and accelerate the key next steps, particularly the establishment of a Constitutional Drafting Committee and the convening of a National Constitutional Conference. He stressed that the process provides an opportunity to redefine the country’s strategic path towards a stable democratic system.
Jaschke said a constitution represents “a contract between those who govern and those who are governed,” explaining that it provides a legal framework through which citizens can demand accountability and exercise their civil, political, social and economic rights, including personal liberty, fair trial, freedom of expression and the media, freedom of assembly and association, as well as the rights to education, public healthcare and access to information.
He added that the constitution-making process represents “a renewed opportunity to unite the country, secure peace and build the nation,” urging all stakeholders to regard it as a national process that deserves broad support and participation.
The EU Deputy Head of Mission expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to participate in what he described as a historic stage in the country’s development. He noted that the constitution-making process is aimed at producing a permanent constitution and establishing a federal and democratic system of governance, in line with Chapter Six of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and Chapter One of the 2022 Constitution-Making Process Act.
He said the process had made significant progress over the past several months, describing it as one of the most notable success stories in South Sudan since the signing of the peace agreement in September 2018.
Jaschke also commended the role of the Max Planck Foundation in supporting the constitution-making process, noting that the foundation had organized a number of workshops that provided space for dialogue and discussion, while also producing materials and summaries of key documents and reference materials related to constitution-making processes.
He renewed his call on the government to continue supporting the process and the steps required to complete it, stressing the need to view constitution-making as a means of redefining the country’s strategic direction towards a stable democracy based on the rule of law and respect for human rights.
Speaking about the importance of economic and social rights, Jaschke referred to a fictional video depicting the return of the late Dr. John Garang to Juba in 2026. He said the video carried a message emphasizing that a revolution cannot be considered successful unless its outcomes improve the lives of citizens by providing food, shelter, clean drinking water, education and healthcare.
He explained that providing such rights lies at the heart of economic and social accountability, stressing that the success of a state should not be measured only by political slogans, but by its ability to improve citizens’ lives and provide their basic needs.
Jaschke also referred to a meeting held on July 2, during which the Chairperson of the National Constitutional Review Commission, Dr. Riang, briefed the Board of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) on progress in the constitution-making process. He noted that the permanent constitution could be completed before the end of the transitional period if all parties worked in the same direction.
He said Minister of Cabinet Affairs Elia Lomuro acknowledged the progress made during the meeting and expressed appreciation for the efforts being undertaken.
At the same time, Jaschke expressed concern over the amendments that have taken effect providing for elections to be conducted under the Transitional Constitution rather than the permanent constitution. He noted that the permanent constitution was one of the key commitments contained in the 2018 peace agreement, aimed at establishing a democratic system of governance and strengthening social cohesion.
He said the remaining time may not be sufficient to complete a permanent constitution if elections are held in December 2026, expressing regret over the development.
Jaschke also raised concerns about the procedures followed in amending the peace agreement, stressing the importance of adhering to the legal procedures stipulated in the agreement. These procedures require the consent of the parties, as well as approval by two-thirds of the members of the Council of Ministers of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity and two-thirds of the voting members of RJMEC, before the amendments are submitted to the Transitional National Legislative Assembly for ratification.
He emphasized that the RJMEC Board was not consulted on the amendments, despite the requirements contained in Chapter Eight, paragraph Four, of the peace agreement.
Jaschke stressed the need to correct the process, emphasizing that “RJMEC cannot be bypassed” and that the proper legal procedures must be completed before any changes can take effect.
He warned that failure to follow the required legal procedures could lead to a state of legal uncertainty and raise further questions about the credibility and legality of the electoral process.
Meanwhile, Jaschke welcomed Minister Elia Lomuro’s announcement during the July 2 meeting concerning the transfer of the remaining tasks under the peace agreement to what he described as “post-election R-ARCSS arrangements.”
He described the announcement as encouraging, saying it indicated the government’s intention to continue implementing the peace agreement and its reform programme even after the transitional period ends.
At the same time, he called for maximum progress to be made in implementing the provisions of the peace agreement during the remaining period, stressing the importance of completing its outstanding tasks and commitments.
Concluding his remarks, Jaschke thanked the organizers for the invitation and commended Kathrin and her team for their efforts in supporting the constitution-making process.
He said those involved in the process were part of a historic chapter in South Sudan’s journey, emphasizing that the government and state institutions have a crucial role to play in ensuring the success of the constitution-making process and, more broadly, in the public life of the country.
He stressed that “history is being made now,” and called for continued support for the constitution-making process in the interest of the people of South Sudan, saying that they deserve it.
He concluded with a prayer: “May God bless you, and may God bless the people of South Sudan.”
