The East African Community's political integration agenda has taken a significant step forward as South Sudan begins national consultations on drafting the Constitution for the EAC Political Confederation. The consultations, launched in Juba on September 24, 2026, will run until October 7, 2026, and aim to gather citizens' views on the proposed Political Confederation. This process ensures that East Africans actively participate in shaping the region's future direction. The consultations will be conducted by a team of constitutional experts coordinated by the Ministry responsible for EAC Affairs in South Sudan.
The Political Confederation is a transitional model towards the ultimate goal of a Political Federation of the East African Community. It aims to provide a framework for deeper political cooperation, coordination, and governance among EAC Partner States. South Sudan's Minister of East African Community Affairs, Michael Makuei Lueth, reaffirmed the country's commitment to the regional integration process and welcomed citizens' participation in shaping the Community's future. He encouraged citizens to openly share their views on the proposed Political Confederation, emphasizing that public participation is critical in shaping a constitutional framework that reflects East Africans' interests.
The EAC Secretary General, Stephen P. Mbundi, recognized the importance of South Sudan's ongoing political transition and democratization process. He congratulated the leadership of Salva Kiir Mayardit on progress made in implementing the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. Mbundi stated that the East African Community stands in solidarity with the people of South Sudan and wishes them a successful and peaceful election. He highlighted that the consultations will bring together a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including government institutions, Parliament, the Judiciary, academia, civil society, and the private sector.
The consultations in South Sudan are the fifth in the EAC Partner States, following those in Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, and Rwanda. The Chairperson of the Constitutional Experts Team and Chief Justice Emeritus of Uganda, Benjamin Odoki, emphasized the importance of citizen participation in strengthening the draft Constitution. He encouraged all stakeholders to actively participate and share their views so that the final document reflects citizens' aspirations, interests, and expectations.
East African Community's Deputy Secretary General responsible for Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, Hon. Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, noted that despite being EAC's youngest nation, the people of South Sudan have much to offer in this constitution-drafting process. He cited the power of regional solidarity and unity of purpose during the struggle for independence and the lessons learned during the country's civil war.
The journey towards the current consultations began in 2004 when the EAC Heads of State established the Wako Committee to examine ways of fast-tracking the East African Political Federation and accelerating the regional integration process. Extensive consultations across Partner States gathered East Africans' views and aspirations, revealing broad convergence on the need for a gradual and practical approach to political integration. The EAC Heads of State adopted a Political Confederation as the transitional model towards the eventual Political Federation in 2017.
A regional launch of the Constitution-making process was held in Entebbe, Uganda, in 2018, under the guidance of Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who was appointed by the Summit to provide political leadership to the process. South Sudan's Undersecretary in the Ministry of East African Community Affairs, Mr. Kawaja Kau Madol, reaffirmed the Government of South Sudan's commitment to the process and assured the experts of the Government's support in both the consultations and implementation of EAC's political integration agenda.
Key points
- The consultations aim to gather citizens' views on the proposed Political Confederation to ensure East Africans actively participate in shaping the region's future direction.
- The Political Confederation is a transitional model towards the ultimate goal of a Political Federation of the East African Community.
- South Sudan is the fifth EAC Partner State to conduct national consultations on the drafting of the Constitution for the EAC Political Confederation.
