South Sudan Faces Political Dispute While Paving Way to New Constitution
A man rides a motorbike with a South Sudanese flag during celebrations in the streets of Juba ahead of South Sudan’s independence first anniversary, on July 8, 2012.South Sudan became independent from the Republic of the Sudan in 2011 after 98.83% of referendum participants supported the idea of the creation of a new state. Shortly before independence, a transitional constitution was ratified, under which the state still operates.A dispute between South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the country’s first vice-president, Dr. Riek Machar, over the dismissal of a regional official has broken out.The dispute comes against the backdrop of efforts to renew the law-making process in the country, as reported by the media.Since 2018, the country’s government has functioned under the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), one of the peace deals which ended the South Sudanese Civil War (2013–2020).According to the agreement, five main political factions participate in a unity government: the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, SPLM-Juba which is led by President Kiir, SPLM – in opposition led by Dr. Machar, SPLM – Freed Detainees, South Sudan Opposition Alliance, and a bloc of other political parties.According to Dr. Machar, Kiir’s decision to sack the vice-president’s party mate Amer Ateny, Jonglei state’s legislative speaker, was unilateral and contradicts the R-ARCSS deal. On Christmas Day, Ateny accused the Jonglei state governor of poor administration. The state has suffered from floods and a series of conflicts among inhabitants.Kiir’s decision to dismiss Ateny followed a meeting with the Jonglei governor and his deputy.The wrangle comes as the East African country attempts to renew preparations for a new constitution. In December, the president signed the Constitution Making Process Bill 2022, which involves restructuring of the National Constitutional Review Commission established ten years ago in order to develop a new supreme law. The bill implies that the legislative team will be appointed in consultation with coalition partners under the R-ARCSS.The transitional period in South Sudan is scheduled to end with elections in 2025.