By Alan Clement
Women’s representation in South Sudan’s government is declining, with delays in the 2018 peace agreement straining the fragile transition and reducing female presence in key national and state institutions.
The findings, published by the advocacy organization Center for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice, come as the transitional government has extended implementation of the peace deal to February 2027.
National elections have also been postponed to December 2026, heightening scrutiny of governance reforms intended to stabilize the world’s youngest nation after years of conflict.
“Women’s participation is often treated as a favour or token rather than a right, despite commitments under domestic legislation and international legal instruments,” the analysis stated.
According to the fact-sheet on women’s participation in the Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU), despite repeated commitments under the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), the 35 percent quota for women remains unmet, with representation in several institutions even backsliding
At the presidency level, women’s representation has improved from 16 percent to 33 percent following the appointment of two female vice presidents in Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior and Josephine Lagu Yanga who chair influential government clusters.
According to the fact-sheet, this marks the only major institution approaching the quota set out in the peace agreement.
Beyond the presidency, however, the data points to steady decline revealing that women currently hold six of the country’s 35 ministerial posts, or 17 percent, down from 25 percent previously.
Representation among deputy ministers remains unchanged at 20 percent, with just two women serving in those roles.
The report attributed the decline to weak enforcement of quota provisions, limited political will among parties, and the absence of accountability mechanisms governing appointments.
“These figures highlight a continued decline in women’s representation,” the analysis noted, warning that commitments to gender inclusion have not translated into sustained institutional practice.
The erosion of women’s participation is also evident in the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly (RTNLA) where according to the fact-sheet, female representation dropped from 31 percent to 30 percent, with 167 women currently serving out of 550 members.
According to the data, at least three appointed female MPs were replaced by men, while additional vacancies affecting women remain unfilled.
The position of the fourth speaker continues to remain vacant, and the removal of a female chief whip has further weakened women’s leadership presence in parliament. “These replacements by males have exacerbated the gender imbalance in the legislature,” the report stated.
Women currently chair 21 percent of specialized parliamentary committees and serve as deputy chairpersons in 37 percent of them. While these figures indicate some progress in committee leadership, the overall decline in female MPs has reduced women’s influence in legislative decision-making.
Gender disparities are most pronounced at sub-national levels, where decisions on security, land governance, and service delivery are made. South Sudan currently has no female governors following the removal of the last woman governor from Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
The number of female deputy governors has also fallen sharply, from 30 percent to just 10 percent, with only one woman holding the post nationwide.
The data highlighted that across state governments, women account for only 22 percent of state ministers, while representation in special administrative areas ranges between 14 and 28 percent.
At the county level, women’s participation is minimal, with only two female commissioners out of 79 positions; just 2 percent. In total, the analysis reviewed 364 leadership positions nationwide, including governors, deputy governors, ministers, and advisers.
Women held only 11 of 50 adviser positions, and none serve as chairpersons of independent commissions. “These trends demonstrate a persistent implementation gap in meeting the 35 percent women’s quota,” the report states, citing weak enforcement mechanisms and limited accountability within political parties.
The data also highlighted delays in passing legislation viewed as critical to women’s rights and political participation, even as the country prepares for delayed elections.
Draft bills on Anti-Gender-Based Violence, Family Law, Women’s Empowerment, and Women’s Enterprise have not been tabled in parliament, despite consultations involving the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare and women’s groups.
If enacted, the laws would strengthen protections against violence, safeguard rights within households, and expand women’s access to education, leadership, and economic opportunities.
Their continued delay, civil society organizations warn, undermines both gender equality and the credibility of the transition.
Gender gaps are also evident in election administration. Women make up 22 percent of the National Elections Commission and 33 percent of the National Constitutional Review Commission, but all 10 returning officers nationwide are men, reinforcing male dominance in electoral processes.
The findings come as the transitional government has established a High-Level Standing Committee to monitor progress on constitution-making, security arrangements, the population census, and elections.
However, women’s advocates argue that monitoring without enforcement risks entrenching exclusion. “Full implementation of the quota, alongside structural reforms, is key to advancing inclusive governance, democratic consolidation, and a peaceful political transition,” the analysis concludes.
South Sudan’s transition remains closely watched by regional guarantors and international partners, who regard women’s inclusion as a cornerstone of sustainable peace. Women played visible roles in mobilizing communities, advocating for civic space, and contributing to peace negotiations during the conflict.
Yet as political deadlines continue to slip, the data suggests that women’s participation is being eroded rather than strengthened, raising questions about the legitimacy of institutions tasked with leading the country into long-delayed elections.
With less than a year to the planned polls and the transition extended once again, the report warns that continued failure to meet the 35 percent quota risks undermining public confidence in the peace agreement and weakening the foundations of South Sudan’s political transition.