The East African Community (EAC) has held consultations in Rumbek, Lakes State, as part of efforts to draft a constitution for a proposed EAC Political Confederation.
The two-day consultations, held on 29 and 30 September, brought together state officials, civil society groups, women’s organisations, youth representatives, faith-based groups, academics and people with disabilities.
Participants discussed regional cooperation, governance, decision-making, peace and security, infrastructure, education, healthcare and the proposed structure and funding of the confederation.
Civil society representatives called for stronger regional cooperation on conflict prevention, infrastructure and education, while women’s groups urged equal representation and greater participation in decision-making.
EAC Deputy Secretary General Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth said the consultations were aimed at gathering public views to help shape the proposed constitution.
He said the political confederation would be a transitional model towards an eventual EAC political federation, allowing member states to retain their sovereignty while cooperating in agreed areas.
South Sudan is the fifth EAC partner state to conduct national consultations, after Burundi, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. The consultations will also be held in Wau and Bor before concluding on 7 October.
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