H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan

H.E Dr. Abdalla Hamdock, Prime of the Republic of Sudan

H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny, First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan

H.E. Madam Rebecca Garang, Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan

H.E. Gen. Taban Deng Gai, Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan

H.E. Dr. James Wani Igga, Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan

H.E. Gen. Hussein Abdelbagi, Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan

H.E. Dr. Mariam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, Chairperson IGAD Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Sudan

H.E. Hon. Justice Ruben Madol, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs

Honorable Ministers of the RTGoNU

H.E. Dr. Ismail Wais, IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan

H.E. Amb. Professor Joram Biswaro, Head of African Union Mission in South Sudan

H.E. Nicholas Haysom, UN SRSG and Head of UNMISS

Excellencies Ambassadors, and Members of the Diplomatic Corps

Dr. Kathrin Scherr, Representative of the Max Planck Foundation 

Honourable Delegates-Representatives of the ITGoNU, SPLM/A-IO, SSOA, FDs and OPP

Honorable Delegates-Representatives of Eminent Persons, Youth, Women, Academia, Faith-based Leaders, CSOs, and Business Community.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Good morning.  

1.  I am greatly honoured to welcome H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan, and every one of you to the official launch of the Permanent Constitution-making Process Workshop. The launch of this historic workshop today marks a significant milestone in the design and making of a durable constitution for the Republic of South Sudan. It is also a big step towards the full implementation of the Revlitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan of 2018 (R-ARCSS), and indeed further evidence of the commitment of the Parties to the Revitalised Peace Agreement to bestow upon this country a durable and people-owned constitution at the end of the Transitional Period.

2.  Under the Revitalised Peace Agreement, the new Permanent Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan is expected inter-alia to guide the conduct of elections at the end of the Transitional Period, guarantee good governance, constitutionalism, rule of law, human rights, and gender equality.

3.  I want to thank H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny, First Vice President, all the four Vice Presidents and the entire leadership and members of the Parties to the RTGoNU, for staying the course of peace, and providing leadership in the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement, all the delays and challenges notwithstanding. 

4.  I also thank the IGAD leadership, the Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers, the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, the IGAD Heads of Mission in Juba, the African Union representative, the United Nations Family, the Troika, the European Union, the People’s Republic of China, the IGAD Partners Forum, and all partners and friends of South Sudan, for standing with the people of South Sudan. Your continued support to the full implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement is critical for building a stable, peaceful, inclusive and democratic South Sudan.

5.  I congratulate the delegates who have been nominated by their Parties and Stakeholders to deliberate at this workshop and agree on the details of the permanent constitution-making process over the next two days. The whole country is looking to your technical expertise to design a viable path for the making of a constitution that will help restore permanent and sustainable peace, security and stability in the country. 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

6.  I would like to underscore the importance of this workshop. Under Article 6.9 of the R-ARCSS, the outcome of this workshop shall form the basis for drafting the legislation to be enacted to govern the Constitution-making process. I would like to thank the Parties and Stakeholders to the Peace Agreement for entrusting the RJMEC with the responsibility for convening this workshop, as per article 6.7.

7.  Pursuant to article 6.8, the Agreement requires that the workshop be moderated and facilitated by an institute renowned internationally for constitution-making. I am pleased to announce that the RJMEC selected the Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law to undertake the task. 

8.  In preparation for this workshop, RJMEC commissioned a comprehensive comparative study on constitution-making proceses within the region and beyond to inform this process. In addition, the Max Planck authored a series of thematic reflection papers to assist the delegates to focus on the issues at hand. Over the last few months, six sensitisation meetings and one joint consultation meeting of the nominees have been held. I am confident that the next two days will be a success.

9.  I thank Dr. Kathryn Scherr and her team from the Max Planck Foundation, who are working very closely with our RJMEC team, led by Mr Stephen Oola, our Senior Advisor on Legal and Constitutional Affairs in preparation for this workshop. I also thank all our partners, UNMISS, UN Women, UNDP, and the South Sudanese members of the Civil Society Constitutional Working Group, who have contributed enormously to these efforts, including through capacity building workshops and public advocacy for different stakeholders, and thematic discussions with delegates.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

10.       This workshop marks the beginning of the constitution-making process. A lot of work will follow, including the enactment of the legislation to govern the process, the reconstitution of the National Constitutonal Review Commission (NCRC), the appointment of a Sub-Committee for the convening of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC), civic education, and the implementation of all agreed workshop outcomes. This process will require a lot of political, technical, financial and logistical support. I would therefore like to appeal to the RTGoNU, regional guarantors, international partners and friends of South Sudan to fully support this process.

11.       In conclusion,  I would like to thank H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, H.E. Dr. Mariam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, Chairperson IGAD Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Sudan, your Excellencies, and all the distinguished participants here for attending this launch, and I wish the delegates very fruitful deliberations over the next two days. Together with the Max Planck Foundation, we look forward to presenting the outcome of the workshop to the RTGoNU upon its conclusion, which will then embark on a process of the constitution-makingI

Thank You.