South Sudan receives IGAD free movement protocol for ratification

Author: Michael Daniel | Published: 15 hours ago

In March, IGAD held a workshop for national and sub-national local authorities in South Sudan on the transhumance protocol| Photo Credit|Courtesy protocol

South Sudan has officially received the IGAD Protocol on Free Movement of Persons from regional migration experts, marking a significant step toward the country’s ratification process.

The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs confirmed receipt of the protocol, noting that South Sudan signed the agreement in June 2022, while its ratification has remained pending approval by the Transitional National Legislative Assembly.

Speaking to the state-run TV after the handover, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Mary James Ajith Awuol, said the Ministry will now prepare an explanatory note to guide the next stages of the approval process.

“We were just waiting for IGAD to present it officially to us and then we move forward,” Mary said.

“What will happen now after receiving this particular protocol, we will do an explanatory note. We submit it to the Council of Ministers, and then from the Council of Ministers we will be submitting it to the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, and then from there it will go to the Office of the President for ratification,” she added.

The Ministry explained that once the Council of Ministers reviews and approves the explanatory note, the protocol will be forwarded to Parliament for consideration before final ratification by the President.

The Head of the IGAD delegation of experts, Sita Basha, said the protocol, once ratified, will allow citizens of South Sudan and other IGAD member states to move freely across the region.

“The protocol focuses on four key aspects: the right of citizens of the IGAD region to enter, stay in, and exit a country of their choice without visa fees,” Basha said.

She added that the agreement also guarantees the right to work and reside in any member state where employment is secured.

The protocol is expected to strengthen regional integration and expand economic opportunities for citizens across the IGAD bloc.