By Deng Ghai Deng
A new report by the Juba-based Centre for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice (CIGPJ) has shed light on the challenges surrounding the application of the 35% gender quota at the executive and legislative levels in South Sudan.
The report, entitled “Women’s Political Participation in South Sudan: Recommendations for the Forthcoming Elections and the Ongoing Constitutional Review Process,” points to the absence of a structured implementation and accountability framework for the quota, revealing a system that often favors political elites and undermines true gender equality in the country’s leadership.
Currently, the appointment of women to meet the 35% gender quota is at the discretion of the President and the parties to the peace agreement.
The report highlights that, despite the near-total appointment system for positions in the transitional government, the lack of a clear framework for enforcement means that the gender quota’s effectiveness is severely compromised.
“Despite the fact that nearly all positions in the transitional government are appointed, the absence of an implementation and accountability framework for the 35% gender quota undermines its effectiveness. At present, the primary beneficiaries of the 35% gender quota are women with close ties to power,” the document states.
The report further reveals that women hoping to secure positions often need to come from privileged backgrounds—such as being veterans of the liberation struggle or having influential male relatives who can advocate for them within political circles.
In some cases, the report suggests that women may be subjected to exploitation, including sexual exploitation, in exchange for political appointments.
This situation further exposes the weaknesses in the system and raises concerns about the integrity of the appointments made under the quota system.
Moreover, the lack of an effective implementation framework has led to a lack of diversity among the women who are appointed.
Younger women, women with disabilities, and those from other marginalized groups are often excluded from the nomination process. As a result, older women—who have more experience navigating political party structures—tend to dominate the positions available under the gender quota system.
“Young women, women with disabilities, and other minority groups are frequently excluded from the nomination process. As a result, older women, who have more experience navigating party structures, tend to dominate the available seats,” the report reads.
This imbalance is not only problematic for achieving true gender equality but also risks reinforcing negative stereotypes about women in politics.
The dominance of older women in these roles has the potential to perpetuate the view that the gender quota system leads to underperformance and fails to deliver on its promises of fostering equal political representation for all women.
Additionally, the report draws attention to the broader perception that some women secure their positions through unethical means, such as sexual favors, to those in power.
This perception undermines the legitimacy of the gender quota system and casts doubt on the credibility of women who have been appointed through it.
Given that South Sudan has not held any elections since its independence in 2011, the report highlights the difficulty in fully understanding the political dynamics at play.
However, it calls for urgent reforms to establish a robust framework for the implementation and accountability of the gender quota, ensuring that it serves to empower all women, including those from marginalized communities.
Jackline Nasiwa, Director of the Centre for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice (CIGPJ), urged the South Sudanese government and political parties to take immediate action to address the challenges faced by women in the political sphere.
She recommended that a clear and transparent framework be established to ensure fair and equitable representation for women in the upcoming elections and constitutional review process.
“The rise in civil voices is very important to us because the voices of women matter in governance, in terms of development, and in nation-building,” Nasiwa emphasized. “If we were to go for elections yesterday, women would be left behind, wondering where they stand, because the current legal framework is not exhaustive enough to guarantee that these rights are protected.”
The report serves as a stark reminder that, without accountability and a genuine commitment to inclusivity, the 35% gender quota could continue to be used as a tool by political elites, rather than being a sincere effort to achieve gender equality in South Sudan’s leadership.