Remarks of the Charge d’Affaires at the Civic Education & Public Consultations Event

Remarks of the Charge d'Affaires of the European Union Delegation, Lothar Jaschke, at the opening of the Civic Education and Public Consultations Event "PRIMER ON FEDERAL GOVERNANCE" IN SUPPORT OF THE NCRC-LED CONSULTATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF SOUTH SUDAN

22 - 23 JULY 2026

I am very grateful that I have the chance to stand here in front you today and be a tiny and insignificant part - but still a part - of the historic journey towards a permanent Constitution, a federal and democratic Constitution as spelled out in Chapter 6 of the peace agreement and Chapter 1 of the 2022 Act on Constitution Making. This is the greatest success story in South Sudan since the signing of the peace agreement in September 2018. We are proud to support this process, and we are proud of the work of Max Planck Foundation that organised several workshops to create space for the project and produce handouts of key documents and readers around constitutional processes.

On 2 July, the NCRC Chair Dr Riang informed the RJMEC Board about the progress made in the Constitution Making Process and stated that the permanent constitution could be finalised before the end of the transitional process if all pull in the same direction. Hon Minister Lomuro acknowledged and appreciated the progress achieved during this meeting.

The role of the Legislature is key in a democracy and might become more important with a federal constitution - as legislators, of course, as well as as those who supervise and control the activities of the Government, and finally as those who initiate legislation - yes, you have the right to do so. So far, all proposals for legislation come from the Government. The Government has of course the bigger apparatus to consider and prepare legislation, but Parliamentarians also have a role to play.

The Constitution confers the right to request statements from the Government on any issue. For example, on the Bill of Rights. The right to life, the right to freedom from torture, the right to fair trial, religious rights, the freedoms of expression and assembly and movements, the right to education and to public health care, the right to housing. Art 9 says that the Bill of Rights is "the cornerstone of social justice, equality and democracy" and that "the rights and freedoms enshrined in this Bill of Rights shall be respected and promoted by all organs and agencies of Government and by all persons".

You have the right to recall these rights and the exercise of these rights. An example when it comes to education and health. Why is the budget execution less than 1% of the spending when the average in Sub Sahara Africa is 10%. You could ask these questions in the interest of the citizens of this country, in particular all its children who need to be educated. The same with salaries. Why are people who work hard and risk their lives every day, such as public health workers, unpaid ? I heard the Rt Hon Speaker Joseph Paciko's powerful speech on 1 May 2026 in the Stadium claiming that work should be renumerated.

You could also refer to and recall Hon Minister Lomuro's promise to shift the pending tasks of the peace agreement to a so-called "post-election R-ARCSS agenda". This was a very significant announcements which we fully welcome. It is now part of the conclusions of the RJMEC Board Meeting of 2 July, so it is official and we can refer to it.

The reforms in the peace agreement are a promise for the future. A statement that the Government is not walking away from these reforms, even after the agreement has expired, can only be welcome. At the same time, we encourage as much progress as possible on implementing its provisions during the remaining lifetime of the agreement.

Let me conclude by thanking you for the invitation and thanking Kathrin for all the work you do, we are proud to support you and through you the constitution making process of South Sudan. It is of immense importance to the future of the country and the lives of the South Sudanese. History in the making. And all of you are part of it as the Legislature have a key role in the constitution making process and overall in the public life of South Sudan.

Good bless you and God bless South Sudan.