CEPO: Periodic Updates from the High-Level Revitalization Forum in Addis Ababa -Part 1
Peace Revitalization Updates
February 9, 2018 (SSB) — The revitalization of the article 11 of ARCSS (National Legislature) faced some disagreements between the government and the opposition groups to the government. In plenary the deliberations were not promising, so the civil society camp with the proposal of formation of mini-committee for addressing the issue of revitalizing article 11 by the formation of mini-committee compose of 3 representatives of various stakeholders. The mini-committee was formed.
The mini-committee has not succeeded in finding the compromised approach for revitalizing the agreement on the resolution of Conflict in South Sudan. The government and opposition groups during the mini-committee consultations have not reached any compromised position on revitalizing the National transitional legislative assembly.
Therefore the process of revitalizing the NTLA will be changed by IGAD tomorrow. The rest of the delegates who are not involved in the mini-committee meeting were engaged in revitalizing the Chapter 12 on Judicatory. The process for revitalizing article 12 of chapter 1 yesterday when on smoothly.
The reasons for the disagreement between the government and Opposition over revitalizing the national parliament per article 11 of ARCSS are centred on the following.
Government opposition: The current national parliament cannot be dissolving and reconstituted but only the current parliament can be extended. The government dissolution of the current national parliament may offer new risk/threat to peace and stability in the country.
Opposition groups: The current national parliament should be dissolved and reconstituted per its size of elected Parliament per April 2010 elections. This means the reduction of the parliamentary seats from current 400 plus to 170 seats. The opposition said they need small government in size to save resources for addressing other public needs.
The way forward adopted by IGAD for today is to approach article 11 of ARCSS by providing proposal to South Sudan delegates. The civil society is helpful in providing the suggestion for best ways for reaching the solution for article 11 of ARCSS.
Some facts about the Current National Parliament
- Appointed members: 68 members, newly appointed for a transitional period. They comprise:
- 50 representatives of the South Sudan Armed Opposition;
- 1 former detainee; and
- 17 representatives of political parties.
- Other: 332 members of the National Legislative Assembly. The Assembly was established in August 2011, following the proclamation of South Sudan’s independence on 9 July 2011. The members comprise:
- 170 former members of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly;
- 96 former members of the Sudanese National Assembly.
The term of the 332 members has been extended to last for the duration of the transitional period.
“The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) is a non-profit, civil society, South Sudanese organization, registered by the Ministry of Justice on 17th November 2010. The organization was initially formed in Khartoum in 1999 and consisted of mostly University students, but its scope broadened after it was established in Juba, Southern Sudan as a separate entity. Presently, CEPO is engaged in the areas of Peace and conflict mitigation, human rights, rule of law, livelihood, governance and democratic transformation. MR. EDMUND YAKANI BERIZILIOUS is the Executive Director of CEPO.”
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