EU Ambassador to South Sudan Pelle Enarsson, speaking at the opening session of civic education and public consultations workshops in Juba on 15 June 2026, called for safeguarding the work of the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) regardless of the sequencing of elections and constitution-making. The workshops, hosted by the NCRC, aim to build capacity and conduct public consultations on the permanent constitution.
Enarsson noted that the European Union has supported the NCRC and the constitution-making process since its re-constitution in 2023 through the Max Planck Foundation, which has conducted workshops on federalism and produced guidebooks and handbooks. This support will continue throughout 2026 as part of EU assistance to implement the peace agreement in South Sudan.
The ambassador emphasized that while the country prepares for elections, establishing a permanent constitution is foundational for the long-term future. "An election provides a one-time snapshot of the political landscape, while the constitution provides the long-term fundament for the future of a country," he said, adding that the constitution protects minority rights, defines the balance of power between center and regions, and delineates executive, legislative, and judicial powers. Without these, an election "answers very little."
Enarsson acknowledged the "unfortunate time crunch" for implementing the peace agreement and noted proposals to delink elections from the constitution-making process. He stressed that whatever sequencing is ultimately chosen, the NCRC's work must be safeguarded and continued in the future political setting. His main message to workshop participants was that their work "will matter, also after elections and for the future of this country."
Stakeholder impact - South Sudanese citizens: The constitution-making process, if completed, could provide long-term legal protections and a framework for governance, but the time crunch and potential delinking from elections may delay these benefits. - National Constitutional Review Commission: Continued EU support bolsters its capacity and legitimacy, but political pressure to separate elections from constitution-making could undermine its mandate. - Political parties and candidates: Elections without a permanent constitution may leave fundamental governance questions unresolved, affecting the stability of any future government. - EU and international donors: Continued funding ties EU credibility to the peace process, but the uncertain timeline risks donor fatigue and reduced impact.
The workshops are part of a broader EU strategy to support the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan. No immediate follow-up actions were announced.
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