South Sudan fails to meet gender threshold in new Cabinet positions

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has failed to meet a crucial aspect of gender balance in the formation of the government of national unity when he recently announced a reconstituted legislative assembly.
Out of the 550 lawmakers he announced through a presidential decree, only 116 female lawmakers were appointed, a move that violates the affirmative action that stipulates 35% of representation from a different gender.
Various Juba-based and diaspora activists took to social media days after the announcement, to condemn the peace parties over what they called “continued violation of some accord provisions.”
The agreement stipulated the selection of at least 192 women legislators to the national parliament.
In a joint statement, the governments of United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, the European Union, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Sweden were also vocal on the gender gap.
“It is vital that both the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly (R-TNLA) and the Council of States adhere to the 35%female representation requirement as stipulated in the peace agreement,” they said.
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