Youth Want Presidential Powers Reduced

This article was last updated on May 25, 2022

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The Youth in Eastern Equatoria State have raised concerns on the draft Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan during a workshop organized by the International Republican Institute (IRI).

They called for a quick attention from the general public to carefully look into the mater related to the draft Transitional Constitution saying because once it is it will be difficult to remove something that affects the public interest.

They have lobbied for and called for recommendation for removal of Article 101(r) where the president has functions to remove a state Governor and/or dissolve a state Legislative Assembly in the event of a crisis in the state that threatens national security and territorial integrity.

Article 101 (s) also gives the president powers to appoint a state care-taker Governor who shall prepare for elections within sixty days in the state where the Governor has been removed or the state Legislative Assembly so dissolved in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, the relevant state constitution and the law in the existing draft Transitional constitution of South Sudan.

According to them, before the ongoing drafting process is completed, the two sections must be removed to bring to an end the situations where the president sacks and replaces state governors like it has happened in Unity and Lakes states this year.

The youth have strongly protested that the move by the South Sudanese public to call for the removal of the sections must loudly be exerted to draw proper attention to the body responsible for the constitutional drafting, so their concerns could be addressed accordingly.

The youth have said many corrections involving the Country’s draft Transitional constitution, must equally be done before it becomes a permanent constitution of the Republic of South Sudan.

A section of knowledgeable youth have informed Gurtong that presently, in the draft Transitional constitution, South Sudanese President has about twenty one (21) constitutional powers which need to be revised properly and reduced accordingly.

Equally, a section of analysts have concurred with the youth’s views saying it is true that still South Sudanese have great opportunity to make changes in the continuing drafting constitution before its finalized and therefore the demands for removal of sections in particular articles are welcomed.

Some say if the draft constitution is assented to, chances for holding a referendum in the future will as well be high but it will be better to arrest the present situation at hands.