South Sudan constitution review body seeks fiscal federalism

JUBA – South Sudan’s National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) is exploring a fiscal federalist system of government as part of the country’s ongoing constitution-making process.

Fiscal federalism is a system of financial relations among different levels of government—in this case, between the central government and state and local governments. It involves the division of governmental functions and financial responsibilities among these levels.

By sharing power and resources, fiscal federalism aims to promote efficient service delivery, economic development, and political stability.

Countries like Germany, Canada, and Australia are notable examples of nations that have successfully implemented fiscal federalist systems.

These countries have decentralized their governments to varying degrees, granting significant autonomy to regional and local authorities. This decentralization allows for tailored policies to address specific regional needs and preferences.

The NCRC, along with its secretariat, kicked off a four-day workshop on Tuesday to discuss the various models of federalism and their potential application to South Sudan.

“We are positioned at this particular historic moment to develop our permanent constitution,” said Minister of Federal Affairs Lasuba L. Wongo.

“In this workshop, we are focusing on discussing fiscal federalism in various parts of the world, bringing their experiences to the people of South Sudan to make a better choice of the best federal system in this country,” he added.

Wongo emphasized that the 2016-2020 National Dialogue highlighted the public’s desire for a federal system to address the root causes of conflict and promote peace, stability, and unity.

“The purpose of implementing a federal system of government is specifically to ensure that there is lasting peace and stability in the country. Secondly, is to ensure a unity in diversity,” he said.

Riang Yer Zuor, Chair of the NCRC, noted that fiscal federalism is not a new concept for South Sudan and is enshrined in existing documents.

The commission plans to launch a nationwide public discourse to educate citizens about the elements of federalism that will be incorporated into the permanent constitution.

“This will be a one-day event to inform the people of South Sudan on what to expect,” Zuor said.

Dr. Kathrin Maria, Managing Director of the Max Planck Foundation, stated that the workshop aims to empower NCRC members to fulfill their role in shaping South Sudan’s future.

The four-day workshop, organized by the NCRC and supported by the UN Mission in South Sudan and the Max Planck Foundation, brought together national and international experts to discuss fiscal federalism and its potential benefits for the country.

South Sudan’s current decentralized government, while incorporating some elements of federalism, still concentrates significant power at the central level.

Recently, the fourth high-level forum summit on fiscal devolution and revenue management, attended by Vice President Dr. James Wani Igga, highlighted concerns about the lack of implementation of the 5% oil share for oil-producing states and communities.

State government officials and experts called for greater devolution of power to state and administrative areas.

The summit concluded with the adoption of 33 recommendations aimed at addressing power devolution and wealth-sharing.