JMEC Chairperson lauds 'significant progress' on S. Sudan's Constitutional amendment process

JMEC Chairperson H.E. Festus Mogae during the 21st Plenary on Monday in Juba, November 20, 2017 JMEC Chairperson H.E. Festus Mogae during the 21st Plenary on Monday in Juba, November 20, 2017
Tuesday, 21 November 2017 08:39

The Chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) H.E. Festus Mogae has welcomed the approval of the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan Amendment Bill (2017) by the the Council of Ministers, terming it as “significant process.”

 

The Council of Ministers have also directed the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs to present the Bill to the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) where is expected that the Bill will be tabled before the legislature goes on recess in December.

 

 

The Bill incorporates the Agreement into the Constitution, and thus lays a firm foundation for progress in the establishment of all the institutions and mechanisms provided for in the Agreement.

 

 

“I urge the TNLA to expedite the ratification of the amendments to the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan,” said the Chairperson.

 

The National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC) is now finalizing the drafting of five Bills for the amendment of the key security laws in order to conform them to the Peace Agreement and complement existing efforts to reform the security sector.

 

 

“It is anticipated that these Bills, drafted with expert consultation and input from key stakeholders, will be presented to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs by the end of this month,” he said.

 

 

In addition, H.E. Mogae said, the NCAC is making significant progress towards the amendment of the Elections Act (2012) and the Political Parties Act (2012) and is reviewing submissions from the Parties to the Agreement, the Political Parties Council, the National Elections Commission, the South Sudan Law Review Commission and civil society.