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On July 9, 2011, the former semi-autonomous region of South Sudan was officially recognized as a sovereign state, the Republic of South Sudan. Independence, mandated by the January 2011 self-determination referendum, was one of the final elements of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The peace agreement ended a decades-long civil war between northern and southern Sudan and ushered in a period of great opportunity for the country.
To support Africa’s newest country, IRI offers capacity building and technical assistance to political parties and government institutions. Through its activities, IRI promotes a viable peace for the South Sudanese people and works to meet the needs of those who were previously excluded from open political participation, such as youth, women and other marginalized groups. Understanding the need for legitimate and democratic institutions at all levels of government, IRI programs support participants at the national, regional and local levels. IRI has worked in South Sudan since 2004, and is currently supported by a grant from the United States Agency for International Development.
Political Party Development
IRI works with the current ruling party of South Sudan, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, as well as 11 opposition parties (South Sudan African National Union, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – Democratic Change, National Congress Party, United South Sudan Party, National Democratic Front, African National Congress, United Democratic Front, Democratic Forum, United Sudan African Party, United Democratic Salvation Front, and United Democratic Salvation Front-Mainstream) to support the development and organization of political parties throughout the country. IRI provides technical assistance and training to promote political competition and consensus-building. By improving parties’ organizational structure, IRI increases their level of preparation to participate in the development of issue-based platforms, public policy and other state-building legal frameworks.
IRI continues to support inter-party dialogue and provides space for opposition parties to voice their positions and concerns. In no place is this reinforcement more evident than the Political Parties’ Leadership Forum Secretariat, which provides a neutral setting for all parties to actively engage on national bills, laws and other issues relevant to the parties and people of South Sudan. The secretariat also serves as a resource center where parties can conduct research on past and upcoming national legislation as well as topics pertaining to democratic principles.
IRI also actively engages women and youth members of political parties to promote their continued incorporation into party and governmental positions. The Institute’s current focus on building women’s leagues within parties will ultimately allow women members to more effectively organize, recruit and promote issues important to their respective leagues.
Parliamentary Support
IRI has worked with the National Legislative Assembly of South Sudan—formerly the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly—since its formation in 2005. The Institute played an active role in the constitutional deliberations before the transitional constitution was passed on July 7, 2011, and works with legislators as they attempt to pass a permanent constitution by 2015.
Currently, IRI’s programming concentrates on building the capacities of select committees and caucuses of the national legislature as well as select state legislative assemblies. Trainings for committee members and staff focus on independent research and analysis, policy generation and constituent outreach and oversight. Such workshops allow legislators and committees to function more efficiently and, ultimately, become more independent of executive authority.
Campaigns and Elections
IRI has and will continue to play an active role in elections throughout South Sudan. In 2010, the Institute focused on educating political parties and party polling agents across the country on the electoral process as South Sudan prepared to conduct national elections. IRI also held trainings which provided participants the necessary skills for running efficient, strategic and dynamic campaigns.
In the months leading up to the January 2011 self-determination referendum, IRI was actively involved training political party agents and placed special emphasis on the role political parties would play in observing the referendum. The Institute hosted trainings in all 10 states and 78 counties, training more than 9,000 observers from almost every registered political party.
As South Sudan prepares for elections in 2015 and beyond, IRI will continue to play an active role in the development of the country’s electoral system, the education of political actors on electoral processes and the preparation of political parties to effectively compete in elections.
Public Opinion Research
In September 2011, IRI conducted the first-ever national public opinion poll in South Sudan. The survey assessed a wide range of issues related to democracy and governance, including: the general environment and government priorities; voting behaviors and attitudes toward democracy; attitudes toward women and general demographics of the country’s people.
IRI followed-up the successful 2011 survey with its June 2012 public opinion poll (PDF), which focused on South Sudan’s Greater Equatoria—Western, Central and Eastern Equatoria states—region. Public opinion surveys are unique in their ability to access the general sentiment of the people. This vital information can then be utilized by political parties and government officials to create public policy that addresses the needs and desires of constituents.
