A high-level delegation from the East African Community (EAC) has arrived in South Sudan to begin national consultations on the country’s political transition and a proposed EAC Political Confederation.
The delegation is led by EAC Secretary-General Ambassador Stephen Patrick Mbundi and senior constitutional expert Amos Wako.
Kawaja Kau Madol, undersecretary in South Sudan’s Ministry of East African Community Affairs, said on Wednesday that the consultations would begin with the central government before expanding to the states.
The process is expected to bring together representatives of the government, political parties, civil society, academia, community leaders and youth organisations.
Kau Madol said the consultations are intended to gather views on key political and constitutional issues and urged young people to participate actively.
The consultations will later be held in several states, including Central Equatoria, Lakes, Upper Nile and Jonglei.
The discussions will cover issues including constitutional arrangements, funding mechanisms, governance structures, decision-making processes and models of regional integration.
Government officials have called on South Sudanese citizens and other stakeholders to participate in the consultations, saying their views should help shape the proposed regional arrangement.
The exercise is expected to begin with consultations involving the president’s office and caretaker cabinet before expanding to other groups, including political parties, civil society organisations, religious bodies, youth groups and academic institutions.
The East African Community (EAC) has eight member states: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. The bloc promotes regional integration and adopted a Political Confederation in 2017 as a transitional model towards an East African Political Federation.
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