Government encourages the media to participate in the permanent constitution-making process as part of their national duty.

By Wek Atak

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Dr. Wek Mamer Kuol, encourages the media to participate in the permanent constitution-making process as part of their national duty.

“The role of journalists in the permanent constitution-making process in South Sudan speaks directly to the heart of our national development and democratic transition. It comes at a critical moment in our national journey towards building a democratic, inclusive, and constitutional order that reflects the aspirations of our people in South Sudan. It is a powerful reminder that the media is not simply an observer of history but a participant in history-making and shaping the nation and history itself. The process of constitution-making shall be democratic, participatory, and inclusive. As we continue with the permanent constitution-making process, we must ensure that it is people-driven, transparent, and inclusive.

He added that the transitional constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011, as amended, particularly Article 36.4, provides that the process of constitution-making shall be democratic, participatory, and inclusive. This principle underlines the need for wider public engagement, and to achieve this, journalists are indispensable and very important in this process. As we all know, every citizen shall have the right to freedom of expression.

The constitution mandates and guarantees the right to freedom of expression. Article 34.1 of our transitional constitution speaks to this. Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of expression, perception, and dissemination of information, publication, and access to the press without prejudice to public order, safety, or morals as prescribed by law. These provisions safeguard media freedom and recognize that a free, responsible, and vibrant press is a cornerstone of democratic governance.

“I encourage you to use these three days to reflect on how best you can contribute to this national duty. Social justice, democratic governance, and so forth. May this workshop be a platform for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and fostering a media culture that supports constitutional democracy in the Republic of South Sudan,” Kuol said.

Meanwhile, JICA Representative, Wudu Dictionsaid that JICA’s commitment to South Sudan is steadfast and deeply rooted in our number one pillar, which is the promotion of the peace process. We believe that sustainable peace and a thriving democracy can only be built upon the free flow of accurate information. Access to information is a fundamental right and a cornerstone for a democratic society.

“As South Sudan moves forward towards its first general election since independence, ensuring that citizens are well informed about the constitutional process, their rights, and their opportunity to participate is paramount. This workshop directly aligns with JICA’s broader efforts to strengthen democratic governance and civic participation in South Sudan. We commend the Union of Journalists and UNMISS for organizing this timely and vital initiative,”

By equipping journalists with necessary skills and knowledge to report responsibly on complex constitutional issues, you are not only enhancing media professionalism but also actively contributing to a constructive public discourse. Your work will be crucial in combating misinformation and disinformation, fostering national reconciliation, and promoting social cohesion, which are integral elements of lasting peace. JICA is proud to support this workshop by facilitating the participation of journalists from the states and their administrative areas, ensuring their presence here in Juba to engage in this critical learning and exchange.

We believe that by investing in the capacity of South Sudanese journalists across the country, we are investing in the future of a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous South Sudan. Additionally, JICA is keen to support NCRRC and all activities regarding the constitutional-making process. We look forward to fruitful discussions and viable insights that will emerge from these three days.

May this workshop serve as a catalyst for enhanced media engagement and ultimately a more inclusive and participatory constitutional-making process for all South Sudanese. Lastly, I want to thank Oyet Patrick from the Union of Journalists and Grace from UNMISS and myself for working tirelessly within a few days to ensure that we are here in this workshop today. Thank you so much.

Director General of the Media Authority, Safana Bui, said, “It is important that journalists are always involved, especially in such important roles. The making of our Constitution, as I can remember, dates back to 2005 when the drafting of the Interim Constitution was done and adopted in 2005 after the signing of the CPA.”

“I remember those journalists who traveled to Rumbek and attended the process. They did their work diligently until we got that document. Again, the review of the Interim Constitution in 2011, just before the adoption on July 9th on Independence Day, was a task that was well covered by the journalists. Today, we are now in the task of making a permanent Constitution for our country, and that is why your role is important. I’m glad to hear that representatives have also come from the States. That is good, so that nobody is left behind.”

The Chairperson of the National Constitutional Review Commission, Dr. Yang Yer Zhor, said that a constitution-making process can be designed to fall within one of the two main categories. The first category is that of elite constitution-making process in which the elites sit, draft, and pass a constitution for everybody and then say at the end of the day that you have a constitution but you have not contributed to the making of that constitution. The second category is democratic constitution-making process.

“Our choice for a democratic constitution-making process entails wider public participation which shall require wider media coverage for the message to circulate wide enough for our people to make informed decisions and choices during public consultation exercises. It is for this reason that a workshop on the role of journalists in the permanent constitution-making process in this country is of utmost importance for such an exercise should rightly be expected, as stated in the invitation letter that I received and I quote, to equip journalists with the skills and knowledge to report responsibly and contribute to constructive public discourse during periods of the making of the permanent constitution. I think this is the essence of the whole matter and this justifies our presence here in this hall.”