Ambassador Enarsson’s address at the civic education workshops in Juba

Ambassador Enarsson's address at the civic education workshops in Juba

Statement by EU Ambassador Pelle Enarsson at the Opening Session of the Civic Education and Public Consultations National Institutions Workshops, Palm Africa Hotel, Juba, 15 June 2026

Hon. Dr. Riang Yer Zuor, Chairperson National Constitutional Review Commission, thanks for inviting me to this important opening session of the workshops for civic education and public consultations with different important stakeholders on the constitution.

Ambassadors, excellencies, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, all protocols observed,

The European Union has supported the NCRC and the constitution making process in South Sudan ever since its re-constitution in 2023, through the Max Planck Foundation, and I would like to acknowledge the important contribution by Kathrin Scherr present here today. Over the past 2.5 years Max Planck worked closely with the Members of the NCRC as well as the NCRC Secretariat on a series of workshops on Federalism to build the capacity of NCRC Members on crucial topics of constitution-making and questions of federalism, printed Guidebooks and Handbooks for and conducted civic education on the constitution making process. This support will continue throughout 2026 as part of the European Union support to implement the Peace agreement in South Sudan.

What happens here today and later with further workshops is foundational for the future of South Sudan. While the country is preparing for elections, it is imperative that the work to establish a permanent constitution continues. An election provides a one-time snapshot of the political landscape, while the constitution provides the long-term fundament for the future of a country. That is where the protection of the rights of minorities can happen, where the balance of power between the center and regions is identified and what powers are invested in the executive versus the legislative and judiciary. Without those in place, an election basically answers very little.

Today in South Sudan, we are in an unfortunate time crunch for the implementation of the peace agreement. There are proposals on the table to delink the elections from the constitution making process. We might argue about the needs for this, but whatever sequencing will in the end happen, the work of the NCRC must be safeguarded and continued in the future political setting of South Sudan.

This is my main message to all of you today: the work you do and embark on today will matter, also after elections and for the future of this country.

Thank you.