From 10-13 September 2024, a workshop on ‘Federalism and Power Sharing’ was held for the members of the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) in Juba. The workshop was conducted by the Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law in cooperation with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), with financial support from the European Union.
The goals of the workshop included providing a comprehensive understanding of federalism and pluralism in relation to the framework established by the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) on the permanent Constitution-making process in the country. The workshop commenced with opening remarks by several dignitaries, including Mr Guang Cong, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr Ismail Wais, IGAD Special Envoy, Prof. Joram Biswaro, Head of the African Union Mission, H.E. Timo Olkkonen, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of South Sudan; Hon. Lasuba L. Wango, Minister of Federal Affairs of South Sudan, and Dr Mohammed Abshir, Resident Representative of the UNDP. The workshop was officially opened by Hon. Justice Ruben Madol Arol, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of South Sudan.
Throughout the four-day workshop, participants engaged in lively discussions covering concepts of federalism and decentralisation, the roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government within a federal system, and various power-sharing options. Additionally, different models of federal systems from around the world were examined. The final day focused on reflecting upon lessons learned from international federal experiences and fostering dialogue on the potential adoption of a federal structure in South Sudan.
This workshop was undertaken in the framework of the Max Planck project ‘Supporting Constitution-Making, Legal Harmonisation and Judicial Reform in South Sudan’ to support the ongoing work on the Constitution-making process in South Sudan.