The National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) on Tuesday kicked off a four-day training workshop on Fiscal Federalism to prepare its members for civic education and public consultations.
While addressing attendees during the opening of the workshop, South Sudan’s Minister of Federal Affairs Lasuba L. Wango said the purpose of implementing a federal system of governance is to ensure lasting peace and stability.
“Federalism will ensure unity in diversity in the country. This country is diverse, geographically, economically and culturally,” he said. “So, to unify this country, we must establish a system of government that recognizes the potential of each level of government and the people in rural areas should be able to feel part of the government.”
“The federal system would like to establish a practice of good governance which is very crucial in the rule of law and ensuring that the government is legitimate and also respect for fundamental human rights. Involvement of the people through participation and more central, the principle of transparency and accountability in the use of public resources,” Minster Wango added.
Also speaking at the event, Ambassador Timo Olkkonen, the European Union Head of Mission in South Sudan, urged the Government of South Sudan to adequately fund the process of making a permanent constitution.
“One of the main features of federalism is that it allows broad and rich participation in public affairs. Federalism does not come for free, it is more expensive than a centralized one. There is a need to make sure that whatever available resources are used very transparently and efficiently to fund the federal structures,” he said. “I would like to reiterate my calls to the Government of South Sudan to provide guidelines for the process. There is an urgent need to take the political decisions on the relationship between the forthcoming elections and the constitutional making process.”
Ambassador Olkkonen added: “I also urge the government to show commitment and ownership to the process by providing adequate financial means to prepare a constitution that South Sudanese will call their own.”
For his part, Professor Joram Biswaro, the African Union Head of Mission in South Sudan, said the kind of federalism needed in South Sudan should be people-centered.
“The question of federalism is what South Sudanese have agreed in principle. The question is what kind of federalism do South Sudanese need? To whose interest is that federalism, is it for us in suits or is meant to benefit the common man?” he asked and added: “Fiscal federalism policy of federalism will address the liquidity and how it is shared by the common man. It is important for us here in the workshop to take the views provided by opinion makers and to take various experiences across the globe to define what type of federalism is suitable for South Sudanese.”
“Fiscal federalism should be man-centered not for elites,” Prof. Biswaro counseled.
Meanwhile, NCRC Chairperson Dr. Riang Yer Zuor said the workshop is meant to empower the commission members ahead of coming activities.
“The purpose of this fiscal federalism training is to empower ourselves (NCRC members) for the activities ahead of us, which include civic education and public consultation exercises,” he stated. “There are six more workshops on fiscal federalism and then the NCRC will conduct 3 or 4 more workshops on design options of organs of government of federalism, systems of governance, inter-governmental relations and resolutions of intergovernmental disputes, and constitution and federalism.”
According to the 2018 peace agreement, South Sudan’s government is required to initiate and oversee the constitutional-making process based on both federal and democratic systems of government that reflect the character of the country.
The constitution-making process is of historical significance as it is essential in creating a social construct between the citizens and those entrusted with leadership and governance.