Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro, governor of Western Equatoria, has renewed his call for federalism in South Sudan, demanding devolution of powers from the national government.
The structure, powers and composition of the national government remains the focus of an ongoing power struggle between SPLM faction leaders Riek Machar and Salva Kiir, and the focus of the peace negotiations in Ethiopia.
The powers and exclusive rights of state governments have attracted less attention at the talks. But in an interview with Radio Tamazuj on Monday, Governor Bakosoro called for popular discussion of federalism in order to persuade those who reject it.
Bakosoro’s call for debate comes after the national government took measures to contain discussion of the federalism issue in the media in Juba. The governor stressed that a federal system of government will provide equal opportunities for the development of South Sudan.
The leadership of Salva Kiir’s SPLM faction opposes federalism at the senior levels, but party leaders at the state levels in some areas support the concept, including in Western Equatoria and Central Equatoria, pointing to a breach within the party.
Bakosoro was asked about the fact that the rebel leader Riek Machar also has been calling for federalism. “Not everything said by the enemy is wrong always,” he said. “They can say ‘two plus two equals four,’ and I can agree by saying yes, ‘two plus two does equal four.’”
However, the term “federalism” as used by Riek Machar’s SPLM-IO faction refers in part to a plan to break down state government’s into smaller and more numerous states along ethnic lines.
This proposal is actually at odds with that of the federalist party within the SPLM of Equatoria, which favors strengthening the existing state governments rather than breaking them apart.
Bakosoro also acknowledged that not all governors support federalism but some reject it.
Asked about the controversial National Security Bill, he declined to comment, saying he was not knowledgeable about the issue.
Related:
S. Sudan gov denies banning federalism debates (2 July)