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COVER STORY

SOUTH SUDAN CONSTITUTION

do South Sudanese need? government. the executive, legislature and judiciary
A presidential term limit, issues of “It’s unfortunate that you can give such powers are clearly separated and defined
land management, a review of the powers to one man. We need a federal and the national army is non partisan.
death penalty, empowering women to system of government. With this system, The issue of the security agents arose
equally participate in national building, all the powers will be with the states to from the public, wondering if the
the inheritance of property, a people- deal with and maintain their own security permanent constitution will give a
centered constitution are all pertinent and take out a government through chance for the army and judiciary to be
issues of concern to some students at the parliament. If you really want the free from government control.
the University of Juba according to a powers of the president to go away, then “You can see a Chief Inspector of Police
vox-pop done by Eye Radio on the kind you should vote for a federal system of being replaced by a general in the army.
of constitution they would want for government,” said Hon. Onyoti at an Eye This shows that the army is everything.
South Sudan. Radio public debate in January. Samuel Don’t be surprised to see the health
The issue of bride price has been cited Dong, the South Sudan Law Society ministry headed by a general in the
as the cause of all the cattle raids in (SSLS) Chairman also weighs in, saying army,” said Dong.
the country and is of concern to the there is increased demand for a federal Dr. Anne Itto, the SPLM Deputy
youth. The youth are advocating for a system of government in South Sudan. Secretary General, admitted the
constitution that will harmonise bride “If you give chance to the public to write challenges of capacity and quality in
payments to avoid future conflicts this constitution, I don’t think they will
among communities.
Public, activists,
politicians
Article 101 (r) of the Transitional
Constitution of South Sudan 2011 gives
the president powers to remove a state
governor or dissolve a state legislative
assembly in the event of a crisis which
threatens national security.
In line with this provision, the president
in January dismissed the elected
governor of Lakes State. State residents
protested against the removal of the
elected governor Chol Tong Mayay but
the latter calmed his electorate, urging The Constitutional Review Debate panellists in Juba. [Gurtong | Waakhe Simon Wudu]
them to respect the decision.
This action by the president has become give powers to one person because you the army but remained hopeful that
a serious concern to the citizens of will be creating dictatorship. But if it the army and other security agents will
Lakes State who are wondering how the is a political process controlled by one be transformed to meet the required
president can fire an elected leader so political party and sanctioned by the standards. She said: “We should not
easily. president, these powers will not go away forget what our gallant forces did in seven
The leader of the minority in the from the constitution because without years in liberating us, keeping invaders
National Legislative Assembly Hon. these powers, this government cannot out of here. The issue of capacity and
Onyoti Adigo rebukes the excessive survive,” said Dong. However, according quality is what is at stake. In the interest
powers of the president. He however to the lawyer, only an inclusive public of peace, the government decided to
strongly believes such powers can be participatory approach to the constitu- take in whoever comes in (militia) and
reduced through a federal system of tional review process will see to it that that’s why our army looks the way it is.”

14 | Gurtong Focus Monthly February 2013