Activist threatens legal action over lack of women in leadership
Juba, South Sudan (Eye Radio) – A civil society activist has threatened legal action against the government if it fails to meet the constitutional requirement for a minimum of 35% women’s representation in leadership positions within three months.
Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), told Eye Radio that this failure is a “serious constitutional violation.”
Yakani highlighted a significant disparity, stating, “We have a zero governor out of 10 governors… zero women representation as chief administrator, only one female representation out of 79 or over 79 county commissioners.”
He further described the underrepresentation as a breach that extends to mayors and administrative chiefs.
He urged the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and the judiciary to advise the government on the enforcement of the 35% minimum representation “without any favor or fear,” warning that if no action is taken within the three months, his organization may take legal steps to question the violation.
