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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 (CPA). The CPA 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 technical assistance to political parties and government institutions. Through its activities, IRI promotes a viable peace for the Sudanese people and works to meet the needs of those who were previously excluded from open political participation, such as youth, women and minorities. 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 Peoples’ Liberation Movement, as well as nine opposition parties (Sudan African National Union, Southern Peoples’ Liberation Movement for Democratic Change, National Congress Party, African National Congress, United Democratic Front, South Sudan Democratic Forum, United Sudan African Parties and the United Democratic Salvation Front and United Democratic Salvation Front-Mainstream) to support the development of legitimate and accountable political parties. IRI also focuses on strengthening the overall capacity of political parties by working to improve organizational development.
Recently, IRI has supported inter-party dialogue and provided space for opposition parties to voice their positions and concerns. This recent objective is best exemplified in the Political Parties Leadership Forum (PPLF), which offers a neutral setting for the opposition to actively engage the majority party on issues relevant to them and the people of South Sudan.
IRI also actively engages women members of political parties to assist the continued incorporation of women into party and governmental positions.
Campaigns and Elections
IRI continues 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 in 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 8,000 observers from almost all registered political parties. IRI produced innovative and informative materials that detailed the polling process, the voter registration process and the sorting and counting process that was made available to political parties and thousands of party agents across all ten states. As South Sudan prepares for elections in 2015 and beyond, IRI will continue to play an active role in the development of South Sudan’s electoral system, the education of political actors on electoral processes, and the preparation of political parties to effectively compete in elections.
Parliamentary Support
IRI has worked with the South Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA) since its formation in 2005. Recently, 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. IRI also works with committees within the SSLA to provide public forums for constituents and legislators to meet to discuss relative issues of concern. These IRI-facilitated forums allow those of the public to openly question their representatives in a robust, transparent manner. IRI also provides trainings for members of the SSLA on issues of advocacy, lobbying and coalition-building. Because many of the elected officials have never been involved in the political process before, IRI understands the need to assist these individuals in the political process as South Sudan transitions into a democratic state. Additionally, IRI helps support a women parliamentarian’s caucus within the SSLA. The caucus recently formulated its constitution and strategic plan and will focus its efforts on increasing gender-centric public policy throughout the transitional period.
