NDI - South Sudan

Jonglei Citizens Critical of Lack of Basic Services | March 26, 2012

fgalleto — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:21:35 +0000

Bor residents complaining that basic services are not available to them have called for the intervention of their members of parliament.

Youths, women, chiefs and elders from the Gok South constituency converged in Bor to meet Philip Thon Nyok, who represents them in Jonglei legislative assembly and Jun Malat from the South Sudan Legislative Assembly, on 24 March. The constitutional dialogue is was organised by the Sudan Network for Democratic Elections (SuNDE), the largest non-partisan democratic motoring organisation operating in South Sudan with funding from National Democratic Institute (NDI).

Link to story »

South Sudanese Want Fair and Inclusive Government, NDI Study Finds

ntekeei — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:44:09 +0000

Tribal violence in South Sudan’s Jonglei state has displaced an estimated 120,000 people and left up to 3,000 dead. Meanwhile, the South Sudanese government has halted oil production due to unresolved wealth-sharing issues with Sudan and announced austerity measures to compensate for revenue losses and inflation. The increased violence and volatile economic situation represent a contrast with the bright future envisioned last year when South Sudan became the world’s newest country. It has also produced a growing pessimism among South Sudan citizens about the direction of their new country, according to the findings of NDI’s latest public opinion study in South Sudan, which were released in a March XX report. Participants cite increasing tribal violence and the tenuous economic situation, which has produced a significant rise in the cost of living, as well as lack of development as the key sources of their concerns that the country is on the wrong track.

Citizens of South Sudan gather in a show of support for their new country.

It has also produced a growing pessimism among South Sudan citizens about the direction of their new country, according to the findings of NDI’s latest public opinion study in South Sudan, which were released in a March 22 report. Participants cite increasing tribal violence and the tenuous economic situation, which has produced a significant rise in the cost of living, as well as lack of development as the key sources of their concerns that the country is on the wrong track.

They also identified as crucial to their future questions of how to govern and unite a country with such immense ethnic diversity and a troubled history of ethnic conflict.

The focus group report – NDI’s 13th study in Sudan and South Sudan since 2004 – cites findings from 44 focus group discussions held in all 10 states in November-December 2011 in which 545 participants share their thoughts on creating an inclusive and fair government. Participants also suggest ways in which the government can increase the public’s confidence in its ability to deliver a better life for all, regardless of tribal affiliation.

Participants said the most effective strategies for making everyone feel included were to deliver basic services equitably and ensure tribal balance in government. They also want the South Sudanese government to support measures to include women, youth and opposition political parties in government.

President Salva Kiir’s decision to fulfill, and even exceed, the mandated quota of 25 percent for women’s representation in his national cabinet was widely endorsed by participants.

Exceeding the quota “is a very good idea to encourage women to improve,” said two young men from Central Equatoria. “Women have been neglected in the country for too long; that’s a beautiful idea.”

In South Sudan, where 70 percent of the population is under 30, the focus group participants also highlighted youth political participation as important.

“Youth should be involved in the government because they are the key foundation of government,” said an older [any other way to characterize? Older means different things to different people] man from Western Bahr el Ghazal.

Participants also said that convincing citizens that government is committed to development progress requires concentration on key areas, such as education, health care and roads; public consultation on development; and communication about plans and accomplishments.

But announcing development plans without specifying locations and failing to demonstrate progress creates more negative than positive views of government, further widening the gap between what citizens expect and what the government can provide, according to the participants.

Other key findings from the report:

Most participants said it was important for a political party that wins an election to include other political parties in the government, though they also said there should be criteria to define which parties are eligible to participate;
Participants said South Sudanese abhor tribalism but engage in it because of unfair government employment practices and inequitable service distribution; and
Most believe it is South Sudan’s duty to help resolve the Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile conflicts, but there are mixed views on whether the country’s assistance should focus on dialogue, humanitarian relief and/or military aid.

Participant responses led NDI to suggest steps the government of South Sudan could take to promote more inclusive government and engage average citizens, particularly women and youth. NDI’s specific recommendations included:

Promoting inclusiveness by addressing the public’s concern about tribal balance in government, demonstrating equitable treatment in development, and consulting citizens about government plans and decisions;
Managing development expectations by communicating government accomplishments and specific plans for future development and increasing public confidence through regular consultation with citizens on whether development is being equitably distributed;
Increasing citizen participation in the development of a permanent constitution;
Demonstrating concern for citizens and a vision for the future by responding to citizen expectations, such as providing emergency hunger relief, increasing the flow of goods into the country to reduce prices and expressing a vision for how to increase South Sudan’s self-sufficiency.

The public opinion study, entitled Governing South Sudan: Opinions of South Sudanese on a Government That Can Meet Citizen Expectations, was researched and written by Traci Cook, senior advisor and regional director for focus group research at NDI, and Dr. Leben Nelson Moro, acting director of the Directorate of External Relations at the University of Juba.

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Published March 26, 2012

Governing South Sudan: Opinions of South Sudanese on a Government That Can Meet Citizen Expectations

ntekeei — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:38:20 +0000

Author:

Traci D. Cook, Dr. Leben Nelson Moro

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

03/22/2012

Resource Type:

Focus Group

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Read the focus group report	1.47 MB

South Sudan: Juba Health Centers Get Consultancy From Bangladesh | Feb. 29, 2012

fgalleto — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:21:00 +0000

AllAfrica | Link to story »

The Bangladesh level II Hospital in the UNMISS, a section of Bangladesh medical corps are set to provide consultancy services to two selected health centers of Munuki and Kator.

All these services will be provided free of charge after the members of state parliament and those of the National Legislative Assembly from Central Equatoria State conceived the idea of getting support to back up the health centers in the state in partnership with National Democratic Institute.

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Sudanese Citizen Coalition Calls for Wide-Ranging Electoral Reforms

ntekeei — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:35:00 +0000

Better civic education, independent oversight of how electoral districts are drawn and better representation of women in election preparations are among the recommendations of the Sudanese Group for Democracy and Elections (SuGDE).

An in-depth look at the activities of the Sudanese Group for Democracy and Elections from 2009 to 2011.

SuGDE has evolved into a strong coalition of six citizen groups standing for free, fair and non-violent elections during the last two eventful two years in Sudan, including the first multi-party national elections in over two decades, gubernatorial elections in Southern Kordofan, and a referendum on South Sudan’s. The group’s recommendations have been published in a comprehensive report on electoral reforms based on its two years of election observing. The report includes 51 recommendations concerning all aspects of the electoral process addressing the election commission, voters and the media. Specific recommendations include:

Implementing election rules three months before polling begins to permit time for civic education;
Creating an independent body to oversee the drawing of districts and allowing the media to observe this process;
Considering religious and cultural traditions and practices while making election calendars;
Reserving at least 30 percent of the registration and polling committees for women; and
Limiting voting days to two days maxi¬mum, increasing the number of polling stations to account for heavier voting and setting aside one voting day as a national holiday.

Before releasing the report, SuGDE organized a forum with international experts, including a constitutional specialist from Kenya and an electoral reform expert from Lebanon, to discuss the best practices in drafting and advocating for legal reform. SuGDE said it will push to see its election recommendations carried out through passage of new legislation, amendments to old laws or strict enforcement of laws already on the books.

Supported technically and financially by NDI since its inception, SuGDE plans to grow its role in Sudan and the region.

The release of the report was followed closely by the launch of the coalition’s new website at www.sugde.org. The group also commissioned a documentary film that covers its two-year existence. The 13-minute documentary features interviews with SuGDE members and footage of election activities. The website details all of SuGDE’s activities and houses each of its many reports, including the most recent on electoral reform.

SuGDE members are the AZZA Women Association, the Babikr Badri Scientific Association for Women Studies, the Group for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Studies (GESCRS), HELA HELP organization, Human Security Initiative (MAMAN), and the Institute for Development of Civil Society (IDCS).

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Published March 12, 2012

Responding to Citizen Concerns, MPs Work to Expand Health Care in South Sudan

fgalleto — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:31:15 +0000

Doctors and nurses from a U.N. hospital in South Sudan are treating patients in Munuki and Kator, two communities outside the capital that had no access to health care until now. The presence of the hospital staff grew out of a town hall-style meeting that was a first-time opportunity for residents of those communities to meet with their elected members of parliament.

A member of the Bangladeshi medical corps checks a patient's blood pressure in Kator. Photo by Victor Geri Ayub, NDI resident officer.

These meetings, known as constituency dialogues and organized by the South Sudanese Network for Democracy and Elections (SuNDE), in partnership with NDI, are new in South Sudan. During the session in Munuki, MPs described how the three branches of government work and explained what MPs can and can’t do — something that citizens may not yet be familiar with in the world’s newest democracy. When the floor was opened for questions, lack of access to health care topped the list of constituents’ concerns.

After the dialogue, SuNDE and NDI organized a meeting with MPs to figure out how to address that problem. MPs reached out to the Bangladesh Army Medical Corps, which staffs the U.N. mission’s hospital in Juba, the capital, and then met with the state health minister to see how the two could partner. The government reached an agreement with the hospital staff for them to provide medical care in those communities.

The program began Feb. 27. Hospital staff are in Munuki on Mondays and Kator on Wednesdays. Doctors provide preventative care as well as basic surgeries. More complex cases are referred to the U.N. hospital for treatment. All services are free.

At a ceremony inaugurating the program, Hastin Yokwe Anisio, deputy speaker of Central Equatoria State where Munuki and Kator are located, thanked the Bangladeshi corps for going above and beyond their mandate. "I hope our people will benefit from this service," he said.

Tongum Rombek , one of the MPs present at the dialogue, emphasized that this solution had originated with the people. “The constituency dialogue connected me with a large number of people,” he said. “They asked questions and we explained to them what we can and cannot do.”

SuNDE and NDI plan to hold 120 constituency dialogues in all 10 states of South Sudan in the coming year.

Related:

Published March 8, 2012

South Sudanese Citizens Connect with MPs for First Time

fgalleto — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:34:21 +0000

The first-time opportunity to question their elected members of parliament (MPs) was so important to residents of South Sudan that some of them brought their own chairs to standing-room-only constituency dialogues organized in November by the South Sudanese Network for Democracy and Elections (SuNDE), a nonpartisan coalition of community groups.

MPs take questions during the dialogue in Bor.

More than 900 citizens attended the dialogues - three in Juba, the capital, and one in Bor, in central South Sudan - to talk about community concerns directly with their representatives, who were elected in April 2010. SuNDE, which observed that election and South Sudan’s referendum on independence last January, organized the dialogues in partnership with NDI to respond to concerns that MPs had not been interacting with constituents. The meetings also gave the lawmakers a chance to share information about what they’ve been working on since assuming office.

“This is the first time I have seen politicians who have been brought to the citizens so that we could tell them what is hindering the community,” said Andrew Sule Felix, one of the participants. “The important thing is that through dialogues we are able to raise questions to our politicians.”

Citizens in Juba asked about being able to see draft legislation, land rights, crime and how resources are allocated to the military. They also asked MPs to look into environmental damage resulting from an deal between the government and a sewage disposal company that allows the firm to dump sewage in the community.

The MPs answered the citizens with substantive discussions of policy. For example, they assured participants from Juba that South Sudanese who have a right to get land will get it, and promised to discuss the issue with relevant officials. The MPs will also use an existing constituency development fund to build a police checkpoint to help reduce crime. And they announced a plan to drill five wells to provide drinking water for the community and reduce the environmental risks of sewage disposal in the area.

In addition to answering questions, the MPs explained the structure of the still-new South Sudanese government, which has legislative, executive and judicial branches, and explained what they can and cannot do in their role as lawmakers.

SuNDE will hold more dialogues in the new year throughout the 10 states of South Sudan. The group will then follow-up with the communities to see if the MPs follow through on their promises.

Related:

Published Dec. 15, 2011

NDI Focus Group Research Documents South Sudanese Views on Building a New Nation

ntekeei — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:42:38 +0000

As the people of South Sudan undertake the task of building a new nation, public opinion research conducted by NDI shows they are optimistic about South Sudan’s future while also concerned about the fundamental challenges it faces.

In a report released today, 860 participants in 67 focus groups described their vision for South Sudan as democratic, peaceful, fair and united. The participants also shared their views on the barriers to building the new nation, identifying the main challenges as insecurity, underdevelopment, tribalism and corruption. The handling of these key issues, the participants believe, will determine the success or failure of the newly-independent South Sudan.

A peaceful and mutually beneficial relationship with South Sudan’s northern neighbor, Sudan, is also important to participants. Most support a “soft border” with Sudan – with low-tariffs and few crossing restrictions – and accept that South Sudan must pay a transit fee to Sudan for the transport of oil to its port on the Red Sea. The status of Abyei is also a concern, with most participants saying that any means necessary should be employed to ensure it becomes part of South Sudan.

The focus group study – the 12^th that NDI has done since 2004 – involved participants from all 10 states in South Sudan. Conducted March 16-April 6, 2011, it is the Institute’s first study after the Southern Sudan Referendum, which was held Jan. 9-15, 2011, and resulted in nearly 99 percent of voters supporting separation from Sudan.

Among the other key findings of the report were:

Participants fear the consequences of tribalism and believe a multi-pronged approach – cultural, administrative, political and legal – must be taken to address it;
Participants have high expectations for seeing major development changes shortly after independence;
Participants strongly support Abyei and believe the name, culture, language and skin color of the area’s residents prove beyond a doubt that it belongs to South Sudan; and
Participants desire a constitutional development process that includes all political parties and features strong input from citizens, including the requirement of a referendum for the adoption of the constitution.

Based on these and other findings, NDI offered recommendations to the government of South Sudan, civil society and the international community to ensure that the development of the world’s newest country will reflect the aspirations of ordinary South Sudanese citizens.

Specific recommendations include:

Conduct a long-running public campaign highlighting the country’s defined values and the benefits of peaceful coexistence and cooperation;
Manage development expectations by bringing citizens and government together to discuss development plans and progress, increasing citizen understanding and participation in the development process;
Organize a public dialogue on tribalism to acknowledge the issue is a critical one that must be addressed and collect citizen views throughout the country on how to mitigate its negative influence on South Sudan society and government;
Increase transparency on financial matters and publicize nation, state and county budgets so that citizens are better able to hold their officials accountable; and
Conduct extensive consultations, through elected officials, traditional authorities and media, with citizens on all major issues facing the nation, such as development, tribalism and political systems.

Related:

Published Nov. 28, 2011

Building a Nation: South Sudanese Share Their Thoughts on the Creation of a Successful State

ntekeei — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:33:19 +0000

Author:

Traci D. Cook

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

11/23/2011

Resource Type:

Focus Group

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Read the report	3.72 MB

NDI E-news: Democracy Day, Libya, Pakistan, African Elections | Sept. 2011

fgalleto — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:15:40 +0000

Sept. 15, 2011

Happy Democracy Day!

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"Independence!" A woman casts her ballot in the January referendum creating the new country of South Sudan. Photo by Susan Stigant, senior program manager.

Sept. 15 is International Day of Democracy, an annual global celebration of human rights, the rule of law and other principles that unite democracies around the world. The day was designated by the United Nations to reaffirm the universality of democratic values and recognize the aspirations of people around the world to have a say in how they are governed and make free choices about how they live their lives.

Nowhere have those aspirations been more prominent this year than in North Africa, where popular uprisings have ousted dictators in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. In Libya, the Institute has been working closely since April with the National Transitional Council (NTC) as it creates a plan for a constitution, elections, national security and the protection of civil liberties. In a country where political parties have been outlawed and maligned for 40 years, NDI is helping fledgling parties create platforms and attract supporters. Writing in the Washington Post, Les Campbell, NDI regional director for Middle East and North Africa programs, expressed optimism about the prospects of a successful transition and outlined the positive steps the council has taken already. Matyas Eörsi, resident country director in Benghazi, spoke to NPR about the high expectations — globally and in Libya — facing the country's new government.

For more than 25 years, in more than 70 countries, NDI has worked to strengthen new and emerging democracies. This Democracy Day, consider contributing to our work and support people in North Africa and around the world who want a voice in how their countries are governed.

Pakistan to Extend Political Reforms to FATA

President Asif Ali Zardari's recent decision to extend political and legal reforms to Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) is the result of a lengthy effort by political parties and other organizations to bring more democratic systems of governance to a region considered a haven for militants and religious extremists. The reforms, supported by NDI, will allow political parties to form and operate in FATA for the first time, and will amend a draconian criminal code first enacted by the British in 1848.

Ensuring Women and Young People Take Part in the Political Process

Women and youth have a significant role to play in new and emerging democracies. In Sudan, caricature art helps engage young people who feel excluded from the political process. In Burkina Faso and Iraq, women are learning the skills they need to run for office and build successful political careers. In Nicaragua, the first class of graduates to earn a certificate in leadership and political management are ready to start their political careers. And in Afghanistan, one young woman is helping others prepare for careers in government by starting an internship program that places students in provincial council offices.

Celebrate Democracy with these Upcoming Events

Save the date! NDI will hold its annual democracy dinner on Nov. 7. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will headline the event, which also includes a panel discussion on the Arab Spring. The dinner and an awards ceremony will recognize those who have spent a lifetime supporting democracy.

On Sept. 23, Alassane Ouattara, president of Côte d'Ivoire, will speak at NDI, where he will discuss his government's efforts to rebuild the country's economy and foster national reconciliation in the wake of violence following last November's election. This event is full, but will be streamed live.

Toward Better Elections in Africa

Across Africa, countries are taking steps to ensure more transparent and accountable elections. A recent referendum in Liberia was monitored by the Elections Coordinating Committee, a civil society coalition that provided a nonpartisan assessment of the process and will monitor upcoming presidential and legislative elections. In Côte d'Ivoire, which recently experienced a violent crisis in the aftermath of its November presidential election, citizen election monitors gathered to discuss their role in mitigating violence in legislative polls scheduled for later this year. And in Zambia and Mauritania, NDI fielded delegations that assessed both countries' preparedness for upcoming elections and suggested improvements.

Coming Together for Common Goals

Democracy can't solve longstanding political or cultural divisions overnight, but it can bring different groups together to discuss issues and arrive at common goals. In Bosnia, eight politicians are reaching across party and ethnic lines to tackle the country's biggest challenges together. And in Honduras, where the effects of a 2009 coup and constitutional crisis are still reverberating, a series of "democracy dialogues" is bringing people together to find common ground.

Public Opinion Research for Better Policy Platforms

Public opinion research helps political parties and governments address the issues their constituents care about most. In Iraq, people want politicians to focus on jobs, the economy, and water and power delivery. In Somalia, focus group research shows that citizens are losing faith in their transitional institutions and are looking for ways to provide ideas to move their country forward. In Belarus, citizens distrust the Lukashenko regime and blame it for current economic problems. But they remain pessimistic about the prospects for opposition parties. And in South Sudan, citizens want to end tribalism above all else, seeing themselves primarily as Southern Sudanese.

NDI's Washington Office is Moving

NDI's new office

Update your address book! As of Sept. 19, NDI's Washington, D.C., headquarters will be located at 455 Massachusetts Ave., NW, on the eighth floor. All telephone numbers will remain the same.

End Tribalism, Corruption, South Sudanese Say

fgalleto — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:38:14 +0000

Source:

Voice of America

Article Link:

Published Date:

09/01/2011

Traci Cook, Southern and East Africa advisor at NDI, sits down with Voice of America to talk about the findings of the Institute's upcoming focus group research report. Cook discusses the type of nation Southern Sudanese are hoping to create — democratic, peaceful, with an emphasis on equality, fairness and responsive government. But above all, she says, the Southern Sudanese expressed the desire for unity, to be united as Southern Sudanese first, with tribal affiliations coming second.

She also discusses the challenges the Southern Sudanese see facing their new country, especially insecurity, underdevelopment, corruption and tribalism.

End Tribalism, Corruption, South Sudanese Say | Sept. 1, 2011

fgalleto — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:49:19 +0000

Voice of America | Link to story »

"The U.S. based National Democratic Institute (NDI) has just released a study formulated from focus group discussions that took place right across the ten states of South Sudan. The study, conducted in March and April of this year, asked people what aspirations and fears they have as South Sudan emerges as a new nation.

"The main findings from the study show that South Sudanese see insecurity, corruption, under-development and, above all, tribalism as the biggest threats to the future of the country. Charlton Doki sat down with Traci Cook, NDI’s Southern and Eastern Africa advisor to learn more. You can hear that interview by clicking the link below, or in the top right of this page."

Link to story »

NDI E-news: South Sudan, Burma, Tunisia | July/August 2011

fgalleto — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:51:47 +0000

August 2011

Newly Independent South Sudan Looks To Future, Permanent Constitution

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Children march in the independence day parade in Juba

South Sudan became the world's newest country on July 9 after a January referendum that showed overwhelming support for independence. Richard Nuccio, NDI's senior director in the new country's capital, Juba, was invited to the independence festivities and captured the celebration in photos. "It was an amazing moment and I felt very privileged to be a part of it," he said later during an interview on WPFW's Africa Now!

South Sudan adopted a transitional constitution just before independence and will soon set about crafting a permanent one. NDI will work with a coalition of women's civic groups from throughout the country to submit recommendations for the new document. The coalition wants to be sure that gender quotas for all branches and levels of government are a part of the constitution and that full separation of powers is addressed.

In March and April, NDI conducted the latest in a series of focus groups it has been organizing since 2004. This latest round explored South Sudanese attitudes toward independence and the future of their new country. “What we heard in the past was a focus on separation,” said Traci Cook, researcher and author of the upcoming report. “We found that they are now turning the corner and beginning to look internally.” Participants saw themselves as South Sudanese first and foremost, and want to move past tribal discrimination and corruption in the new government.

NDI President Wollack Reflects on Returning to Burma after 16 Years

In June, NDI President Kenneth Wollack traveled to Burma to meet with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders. Wollack reports that little in the country has changed since his last visit, but that Suu Kyi remains the unflappable and optimistic leader he met in 1995. Read more»

Aswat Community Connects Activists in the Middle East and North Africa

The Arab Spring uprisings have underscored the impact that social media can have on advancing democracy. As early as 2005, NDI recognized social media's potential and launched Aswat, an online community for those in the Middle East and North Africa looking to make governments more responsive, transparent and effective. Now, recognizing the additional responsibilities and challenges facing citizen reporters, Aswat is training them on journalistic ethics and professional standards. Read more»

Civic Group Invites Nicaraguan Citizens to Participate in Election Monitoring

A new website launched by the Nicaraguan group Ethics and Transparency allows citizens to report any electoral problems that might compromise the November national elections. Read more»

New Report: Political Parties in Afghanistan

Based on 90 interviews with party representatives and civil society, this new report explores how Afghan political parties view themselves, what kinds of assistance would serve them best and ways they might work together in the future. Parties see themselves primarily as supporting individual candidates, rather than an ideology, and focus their activities on elections instead of planning party strengthening activities between polls. The review also revealed that Afghan parties are highly interested in modernizing their internal structures and promoting cross-party cooperation. Read more»

Opinion Research Shows Tunisians Concerned About the Future

Six months into their political transition, Tunisians are concerned about high levels of unemployment, according to the latest round of focus group research conducted by NDI. Tunisians are also concerned about personal security, but are more optimistic about gains in freedoms of expression and association. Read more»

New Library Helps Liberian MPs Write Legislation

A new library and research service in the Liberian parliament is helping lawmakers write legislation. Among them is Senator Gloria Musu Scott, who wanted to draft a bill providing domestic partnership benefits for those in common law marriages. So she visited Liberia's new Legislative Information Service (LIS) to find how other countries have handled the issue and conducted an Internet search that turned up similar laws in several U.S. states. This type of information would not have been available until the library opened a few months ago. Read more»

Mauritanian Parliament Seeks Citizen Input for Social Security Reform

Social security is a hotly debated topic in Mauritania. The current system is expensive, and the government is facing choices on whether to raise taxes, cut services or restructure the program. Rather than operating behind closed doors, the parliament has sought citizen input, holding a public meeting and asking leaders from civil society organizations to weigh in with their policy ideas. Read more»

As Mauritanians prepare for parliamentary and municipal elections tentatively scheduled for the fall, keep up with the latest political analysis and developments by subscribing to the Mauritania Elections Bulletin. Subscribe»

South Sudan Celebrates Independence

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 20:57:24 +0000

Source:

Africa Now!

Article Link:

Published Date:

07/20/2011

Citizens of South Sudan celebrated their long awaited independence day on July 9, 2011 after more than five decades of armed struggle with the North. The mood in Juba was optimistic despite the ongoing disputes between the North and the South and the tremendous challenges ahead for the people of South Sudan as they build a new nation. In an interview with Africa Now, NDI’s country director for the newly formed South Sudan, Richard Nuccio, speaks about the continuing conflict between the North and South over the oil-rich Abyei region that may drive the two sides back into war, as well as the Constitutional revision process currently underway that will seek to give democratic voice to the population.

Opinion Study Shows that Citizens in South Sudan Want a Democratic and Just Government

rrunyan — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 21:27:57 +0000

As South Sudan celebrates its first week as a new nation, preliminary focus group research released today by NDI shows that citizens of the world’s youngest country have growing expectations for their government.

While citizens give high marks to the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) for staging the successful independence referendum on Jan. 9, they want to curb corruption and tribalism that they say permeates government at every level. The findings, presented by NDI’s Traci Cook at an event at the United States Institute of Peace, also show that major citizen concerns revolve around security and development.

“What we heard in the past was a focus on separation,” Cook said. “What we found in this study is that they are turning the corner and beginning to look internally.”

Participants complained that discrimination based on tribal affiliation is rampant in government employment and that it is impossible to win a government appointment without some kind of inside connection. Many felt that the lack of tribal balance means that only certain groups will experience a better life.

“Everybody has turned to politics because they see it as a means of obtaining all they need,” one participant said. “My tribe is behind because we don’t have big people in government,” according to another.

But not all citizen concerns were so pessimistic. Participants also expressed a desire to develop a good business relationship with the north (Sudan) that will benefit both countries economically.

“While the participants in the study understand the challenges their new country faces,” Cook said, “there was also great enthusiasm that after such a long, hard struggle, they have their own country. They are excited about the possibility of helping to build the great nation they want. They see themselves as the engine of development – growing crops to ensure food security, starting businesses to help with employment and providing labor for development projects.”

Many of the South Sudanese citizens interviewed even embraced the idea of paying taxes to their government so that those funds can be used to further development. They expressed a strong desire and commitment to ending tribalism. They want to build the nation through the unity of Southerners.

The research – the 12th such study NDI has carried out since 2004 – stems from 67 focus group discussions with 860 participants in all 10 states in South Sudan conducted in March and April of this year. Among the other key findings were:

Citizens believe the solution for tribalism begins at the top with a political commitment to have a wider mix of tribes within key government institutions;

Though negotiation is the first choice of all, most participants are supportive of using any means necessary to have Abyei join South Sudan, even if it means a return to war; and

Most participants proudly identify themselves as South Sudanese and express a great desire for South Sudanese to think of themselves as one people – Southerners first, members of a tribe second.

Related:

Pictured above: "The Children of Independence" in South Sudan take part in the celebration for the new country on July 9.

Published July 14, 2011

NDI - South Sudan

Jonglei Citizens Critical of Lack of Basic Services | March 26, 2012

South Sudanese Want Fair and Inclusive Government, NDI Study Finds

Governing South Sudan: Opinions of South Sudanese on a Government That Can Meet Citizen Expectations

South Sudan: Juba Health Centers Get Consultancy From Bangladesh | Feb. 29, 2012

Sudanese Citizen Coalition Calls for Wide-Ranging Electoral Reforms

Responding to Citizen Concerns, MPs Work to Expand Health Care in South Sudan

South Sudanese Citizens Connect with MPs for First Time

MPs take questions during the dialogue in Bor.

NDI Focus Group Research Documents South Sudanese Views on Building a New Nation

Building a Nation: South Sudanese Share Their Thoughts on the Creation of a Successful State

NDI E-news: Democracy Day, Libya, Pakistan, African Elections | Sept. 2011

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End Tribalism, Corruption, South Sudanese Say

End Tribalism, Corruption, South Sudanese Say | Sept. 1, 2011

NDI E-news: South Sudan, Burma, Tunisia | July/August 2011

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South Sudan Celebrates Independence

Opinion Study Shows that Citizens in South Sudan Want a Democratic and Just Government