South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
The Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO), Edmund Yakani, has called for urgent action following the identification of a breach of the 35% women representation mandated in the 2018 peace agreement.
He emphasises that ensuring gender inclusivity in government is not only a legal requirement but also essential for equitable national development.
“I would like to take this opportunity to amplify my voice to the leadership of the country: there is a serious issue regarding the violation of the 35% minimum representation and participation of women in the executive branch of government. We consider this a constitutional violation,” Yakani stated in a statement issued yesterday.
According to Yakani, the neglect of women’s inclusion not only violates legal commitments but also undermines the spirit of inclusivity and gender equality in public life.
“This isn’t just a political oversight; it’s a direct breach of the principles that promote women’s access to decision-making spaces,” he said.
Yakani outlined specific areas where the 35% requirement is being blatantly ignored:
“State Governors: 0 out of 10 are women; Chief Administrators of Administrative Areas: 0 female representation; County Commissioners: only 1 female among over 79 positions; and Mayors of Cities and Municipalities: no female inclusion.”
“We are deeply disappointed and disturbed to see that we continue to lose ground in enforcing the 35% representation, whether it’s at the level of governors, chief administrators, commissioners, or mayors,” he emphasised.
He warned that civil society would not remain silent. “We are giving the government a grace period of three months to respond to this call,” he said. “If there’s no change, we may pursue legal action to question why this constitutional requirement continues to be violated.”
Yakani also urged key institutions to play their roles in upholding the law.
“We respectfully call upon His Excellency the President to reconsider the enforcement of the 35% quota. We also urge the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, as well as the judiciary, to advise the government to implement this mandate without fear or favour.”
He rejected commonly used excuses for excluding women from leadership roles, including claims that women are not in uniform or lack qualifications.
“We have women in uniform. We have capable women. Affirmative action means bringing women up to an equal level so they can walk side by side with men in shaping the future of this country,” Yakani declared.
“This is a struggle for gender equality, and it must be enforced—no excuses, no favours.”
The 2018 agreement stipulates a minimum of 35% representation for women in all transitional government institutions, including the executive branch, as well as various monitoring and evaluation committees.
While the agreement includes the 35% quota, challenges remain in its implementation. Some reports suggest that women’s representation in certain areas is still below the agreed-upon quota.
