The European Union has expressed concern over rising violence in South Sudan and called for the uninterrupted continuation of the country’s permanent constitution-making process.
Ambassador Pelle Enarsson, Head of the European Union Delegation to South Sudan, made the remarks during a workshop on federalism organised by the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) in Juba.
Speaking at the opening on Wednesday, Enarsson said the EU was “deeply concerned” by the recent escalation of violence, and stressed the need for dialogue and political agreements to halt fighting and restore full implementation of the 2018 revitalised peace agreement.
“There is a clear need for more dialogue and for political agreements to stop the violence and come back to the implementation of the peace agreement,” he said.
He added that, despite political and security challenges, the work of the NCRC on the permanent constitution must continue, and urged mechanisms to ensure continuity beyond the current transitional period.
Enarsson reaffirmed the EU’s support for the constitutional process through its partnership with the Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law.
“We are really proud to be able to support this project,” he said, wishing participants a successful workshop.
The federalism workshop is part of an ongoing series designed to inform South Sudan’s constitution-making through public consultations and technical discussions on governance structures.
Dr Kathrin Scherr, senior legal expert at the Max Planck Foundation, said the three-day session focuses on legislative and executive design in federal systems and the role of local government. She noted that it builds on four previous workshops since 2024 covering power sharing, fiscal devolution, wealth sharing, and constitutionalism.
Scherr praised the NCRC for conducting public consultations in eight states and said the workshop was shaped by feedback from the commission to address issues most relevant to South Sudan’s federal governance debate.
Dr Riang Yier Zuor, chairperson of the NCRC, said the workshop is the fifth in the federalism series launched in 2024 and the first for 2026. He said discussions include comparative case studies, local government structures, functions, and fiscal arrangements.
Zuor expressed hope the engagement would strengthen the commission’s understanding of federal governance and announced plans for an additional workshop on models and management of federal capitals. He thanked the Max Planck Foundation and the European Union for their continued support.
Last month, the presidency and cabinet approved amendments to key provisions of the 2018 peace agreement, delinking the December 2026 elections from the permanent constitution-making process, a national census and other institutional reforms.
The amendments also removed provisions stating that the peace agreement takes precedence over the transitional constitution.
The proposed amendments are currently under review by the monitoring body RJMEC.