A workshop scheduled by South Sudan’s Ministry of Federal Affairs to discuss local government in a federal system has been postponed due to security advice. The event, aimed at contributing to the nation’s permanent constitution, was to be opened by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar. The delay reflects rising political tensions following recent clashes in the region.
A workshop organized by the Ministry of Federal Affairs in South Sudan to discuss local government roles within a federal system has been postponed due to technical issues. This event, scheduled for Wednesday morning in Juba and in collaboration with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aimed to examine the functioning of local governments under a federal framework that delineates power between national and regional authorities.
Lasuba L. Wongo, South Sudan’s Minister of Federal Affairs, stated that the postponement was recommended by security officials. He noted, “There were issues that arose, and our security team advised that we adjourn this to another date. We are now coordinating with JICA to reschedule the event as soon as possible.”
Wongo highlighted the workshop’s significance as part of the larger initiative to draft South Sudan’s permanent constitution and disclosed plans for a national conference on federalism subsequent to the workshop. The event was to be inaugurated by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, but recommendations from the National Security Service (NSS) led to its postponement due to unspecified concerns.
The decision to defer the workshop occurred against a backdrop of escalating political tensions in the country. Recent clashes in Nasir, Upper Nile State, between factions loyal to President Salva Kiir and those supporting Dr. Machar resulted in multiple fatalities and prompted the arrest of several of Dr. Machar’s allies, raising alarms regarding the stability of the peace agreement reached in 2018.
The issue of federalism in South Sudan remains highly contentious, with ongoing debates about the equitable distribution of power and resources between the central government and local authorities. The workshop’s postponement represents a setback in advancing critical discussions essential to the constitutional process in the nation. As of now, there has been no announcement regarding a new date for the workshop.
The postponement of the workshop on local government roles in South Sudan’s federal system, due to security concerns, underscores the ongoing political tensions impacting the nation. With significant discussions on federalism vital for the constitutional process, stakeholders must navigate these challenges to advance towards a more stable governance framework. Future rescheduling of the workshop is necessary to continue these important dialogues, although a new date has yet to be set.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
