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| Vice President of South Sudan | |
|---|---|
| Post | Vice President of South Sudan |
Vice President of South Sudan is a senior political office in South Sudan created following Independence of South Sudan and subsequent constitutional arrangements. The office has evolved through Comprehensive Peace Agreement (2005), Interim Constitution of South Sudan (2011), and multiple power-sharing accords such as the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS). Holders of the office have played roles in negotiations among parties including the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), and other signatories like the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).
The position emerged amid transition from Second Sudanese Civil War arrangements under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (2005) that led to autonomy for Southern Sudan Autonomous Region and later the 2011 South Sudanese independence referendum. During interim arrangements, offices akin to vice presidency existed under the Government of Southern Sudan executive led by figures from the SPLM and allied movements such as United Democratic Front (South Sudan). After independence in July 2011, constitutional instruments and subsequent peace accords including the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (2015) and the R-ARCSS (2018) reconfigured the vice presidential posts to accommodate leaders from SPLM-IO, National Salvation Front (NAS) affiliates, and representatives from Greater Upper Nile and Bahr el Ghazal regions.
The vice presidential office interfaces with presidential duties codified in the Interim Constitution of South Sudan (2011) and amendments arising from peace agreements. Responsibilities commonly include executive coordination between ministries such as Ministry of Foreign Affairs (South Sudan), liaison with security entities like the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), and participation in national reconciliation initiatives involving parties such as IGAD mediators and representatives from African Union Commission. The officeholder often represents South Sudan in diplomatic fora including meetings with United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), bilateral talks with neighboring states like Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and involvement in implementation of provisions from accords including Khartoum Peace Process elements.
Appointment mechanisms have varied: initial designations followed outcomes of the 2010 South Sudanese general election processes and appointments by the President of South Sudan. Under R-ARCSS provisions, multiple vice-presidential slots were allocated to parties including SPLM, SPLM-IO, and coalition groups, with terms tied to transitional timelines set by accords and monitored by mediators including IGAD and the United Nations Security Council. Terms have been affected by delays in implementation, constitutional amendments debated in bodies such as the Council of States (South Sudan) and the National Legislative Assembly (South Sudan).
Notable vice presidents and deputy leaders trace through the post-independence period: representatives from the SPLM leadership, figures allied to Riek Machar of SPLM-IO, and appointees reflecting agreements with actors like Paul Malong Awan allies and members of the South Sudan Democratic Movement. Several occupants transitioned into other roles including presidencies within SPLM structures, appointments to executive committees, or placement in mechanisms like the Transitional Implementation Mechanism (TIM) and the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission.
The vice president’s constitutional powers include assuming presidential functions during vacancy, incapacity, or absence in line with provisions inspired by models such as those referenced in comparative texts on succession used by negotiators from bodies like African Union and Commonwealth advisors. In practice, succession and temporary assumption of duties have been negotiated through political agreements among blocs including SPLM, SPLM-IO, and the South Sudan Opposition Alliance, with oversight from international guarantors such as Troika (US, UK, Norway) representatives.
The office maintains a complex relationship with the President of South Sudan, shaped by personalities from the SPLM and rival factions like factions of South Sudan Opposition Movements. Collaboration and contestation have occurred over security arrangements involving the SSPDF and integration schedules for forces under the DDR (disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration) frameworks. The vice president often engages with international partners including United Nations, African Union, IGAD, and bilateral envoys from United States, United Kingdom, and Ethiopia to manage implementation of ceasefire and governance commitments.
Several vice presidents have influenced peace implementation, resource-sharing dialogues over areas like Upper Nile (state), Jonglei State, and Unity (state), and negotiations on oil arrangements with Sudan and firms involved in the petroleum sector. Officeholders connected to leaders such as Salva Kiir Mayardit, Riek Machar, and other regional figures have shaped outcomes in processes including R-ARCSS implementation, affecting humanitarian responses coordinated with UNMISS and International Committee of the Red Cross. The legacy of vice presidents is tied to transitions from armed opposition to political participation through mechanisms like the Transitional Government of National Unity.
Category:Politics of South Sudan