By Yiep Joseph
South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Women’s League has adopted and signed its first constitution.
This step strengthened the structure of the party’s women’s wing as the country prepares for general elections in December.
The constitution was adopted at the conclusion of the SPLM Women’s League’s first national constitutional conference, held in Juba from August 11 to 14 under the theme “Empowered Woman, Empowered Nation,” according to a communiqué read by Central Equatoria State Minister of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare, Elizabeth Pita Lugor.
Delegates from the 10 states and three administrative areas, representing women in various party structures, endorsed the constitution for implementation across the SPLM.
The delegates also nominated President Salva Kiir Mayardit for the position of SPLM chairman at the party’s upcoming third national convention and endorsed him as the party’s sole presidential candidate for the December 22, 2026, general elections.
“We endorse His Excellency Comrade Salva Kiir as the sole presidential candidate for the December 22, 2026, general elections,” Lugor said while reading the resolutions.
The Women’s League said the constitution would provide a framework for strengthening its structures and implementing its activities across the country.
Among its resolutions, the group called for the nationwide registration of SPLM members, recommended that the Women’s League chairperson become a member of the party’s Political Bureau, and called for the mobilisation of women to participate in the country’s first general elections.
The delegates also pledged to spearhead peace, reconciliation, and healing and condemned intercommunal violence, armed conflict, and violence against women and youth.
Women’s League Chairperson Adak Kosta described the adoption of the constitution as a major advance for women within the ruling party.
“Today we have elevated our women’s leadership to the level of having a constitution and five-year strategic plan,” Kosta said.
She said delegates returning to their respective states and administrative areas would be responsible for mobilising women and preparing them for the elections.
Kosta also appealed to the SPLM chairman to allow the current party secretary-general to continue in the position, saying his leadership was important to strengthening the party.
Another senior SPLM official said the new constitution would enable the Women’s League to expand registration and recruitment from the grassroots to the national level.
“We are ready to start the registration of women from Buma to Payam, to county, to state, up to the national level,” the official said.
Akol Paul Khordit, representing the SPLM chairman at the closing ceremony, said the reorganisation of the Women’s League and the drafting of its constitution had been a planned objective.
“I told them that the SPLM women’s league deserves to be reorganised, to draw delegates from the states, and to have its own constitution as required by the SPLM constitution,” Khordit said.
He said the SPLM had a central role to play in addressing South Sudan’s political, security, economic, and social challenges and urged women in the party to remain united.
The resolutions also called for measures to improve women’s economic opportunities, including the establishment of women-focused entrepreneurship structures, adult education centres and mechanisms to support and protect women’s rights.
The conference comes as South Sudan prepares for elections scheduled for December 22, 2026, following years of political transition.
The Women’s League said its delegates would return to the states and administrative areas to mobilise women and prepare them for participation in the electoral process.