By Sabri Dibaco
The East African Community (EAC) has officially opened national consultations in South Sudan on the proposed Constitution of the East African Political Confederation, calling on participants to freely express their views on the future of regional integration.
The consultation is part of a wider EAC process aimed at developing a political confederation as a transitional model toward deeper political integration among partner states.
Speaking at the official opening in Juba, the Minister of East African Community Affairs, Michael Makuei Leuth, said the consultation would examine a wide range of issues surrounding the proposed political confederation.
“This consultation will provide an opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues relating to the proposed political confederation, including the constitutional framework, funding mechanisms, and decision-making,” Makuei said.
The discussions are also expected to examine ways of strengthening regional integration and cooperation among EAC partner states, promoting inter-regional trade, and supporting sustainable economic growth and development.
The official said the views gathered from the consultations would contribute to a shared regional integration process that reflects the aspirations and interests of people across the East African Community.
“The views essentially will contribute to a shared regional integration process that reflects the aspirations and interests of the peoples of the East African Community.”
He noted that the political consultation is one of several processes being undertaken as part of the EAC integration agenda, adding that other processes and protocols have already progressed, although they have not yet been fully completed.
The secretary general of the EAC, Stephen Patrick, thanked the government and people of South Sudan for their support and hospitality in hosting the consultation process.
“I am deeply honored to welcome you all to this historic occasion, the official launch of the National Consultation on the Constitution of the East African Political Confederation in the Republic of South Sudan.”
He commended President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the Government of South Sudan for facilitating the consultations, saying the exercise demonstrates the country’s commitment to the East African Community integration agenda.
Patrick said the consultation aimed to collect citizens’ views on the proposed political confederation, including the type of constitutional and governance structures they would like to see at the regional level.
He said the process is intended to be people-centred and inclusive, allowing communities and different sectors of society to contribute to the drafting of the Confederation Constitution.
“This process is about citizens of East Africa and their views on the constitution and government structure they would wish to see at the regional level.”
The deputy secretary general, infrastructure, productive, social, and political, Andrea Agurer Arrik, said similar consultations have already been conducted in Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda, making South Sudan the fifth EAC partner state to undertake the exercise.
“The consultations in South Sudan will be conducted as follows: Juba: 25–28 September 2026, covering Central and Western Equatoria. Rumbek: 29–30 September 2026. Wau: 1 October 2026. Bor: 4–5 October 2026,” Agurer said.
The official appealed to the media and other regional stakeholders to provide dedicated coverage of the consultations.
The process is expected to feed into the wider EAC effort to develop a constitutional framework for a political confederation as a transitional model toward political federation.
The consultations are also intended to strengthen public participation and consensus around the future political structure of the East African Community.