People’s Charter for Federal Democracy in South Sudan
7 August 2025
Preamble
We, the representatives of the South Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance (SSFDA), in solidarity with the people of South Sudan, declare this Charter as a unifying call to establish a peaceful, just, and federal democratic state. In the face of tyranny, tribalism, and systemic injustice, we offer this Charter as the foundation of a new political and social contract that restores dignity, rights, and opportunity to every South Sudanese citizen. Rooted in our ancestral heritage and enriched by our diverse cultures, this Charter represents our collective will to forge a united, sovereign, and inclusive nation.
This Charter also welcomes endorsement by like-minded movements and representatives committed to building a peaceful, federal, and democratic South Sudan. The SSFDA remains open to principled alliances that uphold this Charter’s vision.
This Charter is grounded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the IGAD-led peace frameworks. It seeks to actualize South Sudan’s commitments under international law through a grassroots-driven federal compact.
To fulfill this Charter’s vision, SSFDA has established two institutional arms: the Protection and Liberation People’s Unit (PALPU), to lawfully defend civilians and uphold federal sovereignty, and the Federal Relief Commission (FRC), to coordinate humanitarian aid for displaced and war-affected communities. These bodies reflect our commitment to both protection and care, guided by law and service.
Transitional Position of SSFDA
SSFDA rejects the failed 2018 peace agreement (R-ARCSS) as an elite pact that entrenched repression and division. This Charter builds a new foundation rooted in people’s legitimacy.
1. Vision and Core Principles
• Federalism: South Sudan shall be restructured into a true federal republic with three autonomous regions—Greater Upper Nile, Equatoria, and Bahr el Ghazal. Each region shall govern its own affairs, control its resources, and preserve its culture within a unified national framework.
• Democracy: Governance shall be grounded in democratic norms, including multiparty competition, free and fair elections, civilian oversight, and term limits.
• Freedom of Expression and Independent Media: A free, pluralistic, and independent press shall be guaranteed. Journalists, media houses, and civil society actors shall be protected under the law to ensure the open exchange of ideas, investigative reporting, and informed public debate.
• Justice and Rule of Law: An independent judiciary shall uphold the rule of law. War crimes, corruption, land grabbing, and abuses of office shall face full accountability through transparent and impartial systems.
• Equality of Nations and Inclusion: Equal rights, representation, and fair access to national resources shall be guaranteed for all 64 nations of South Sudan. Marginalized groups shall be protected, and affirmative measures shall dismantle structural discrimination and promote dignity for all.
• Youth Empowerment: Youth, as the foundation of the nation’s future, shall be fully empowered to participate and lead in governance, development, education, and peacebuilding at all levels.
• Rights of Women and Girls: The full and equal rights of women and girls shall be enshrined in all areas of national life—including political representation, education, economic opportunity, leadership, and public service. Affirmative action shall be taken to eliminate gender-based violence and ensure women’s safety, dignity, and voice in all national affairs.
• Civilian Supremacy: The military shall serve under civilian authority, integrated across ethnic lines, and act as a protector of all citizens, not a political instrument.
• Cultural Integrity: Ancestral land rights and customary governance shall be protected. Traditional authorities shall be formally integrated into the federal framework. In parallel, federal institutions shall safeguard South Sudan’s rivers, forests, grazing lands, and ecosystems, ensuring clean water, sustainable agriculture, and protection from exploitative extraction.
• Resource Sovereignty: Natural resources shall be protected from exploitation, governed transparently, and managed in accordance with ancestral rights and environmental justice.
• Technological Empowerment: Technology and digital tools shall serve the people by improving transparency, service delivery, and cultural preservation. Surveillance and exploitation technologies shall be rejected.
2. Immediate Objectives of SSFDA
• Restore Democratic Governance: Mobilize lawful, peaceful, and people-centered efforts—through civic engagement, international advocacy, and principled diplomacy—to bring an end to authoritarianism and replace the current kleptocratic system with a democratic, accountable government rooted in the rule of law.
• Unite the Opposition: Reconcile and integrate all democratic opposition factions under a shared vision of federalism, rule of law, and inclusive governance—ensuring unity is rooted in principles, not personalities, and that all political actions strictly adhere to international law and the protection of civilians.
• Lawful Self-Defense: Recognize the right to self-defense under international humanitarian law, while strictly prohibiting harm to civilians and non-combatants.
• Humanitarian Relief: Create corridors and secure aid delivery to civilians affected by conflict and displacement.
• Document Atrocities: Establish systems to investigate and prosecute crimes against humanity by all actors, without impunity.
• Protect Civilian Space: All resistance activities shall explicitly exclude the targeting or use of civilians. SSFDA commits to upholding international humanitarian law, including protection of IDPs, humanitarians, and non-combatants.
• Rebuild National Consciousness: Promote civic education and awareness on cultural destruction and divisive policies imposed by the regime.
• Refugee and IDP Return and Reintegration: A federal South Sudan shall guarantee safe, voluntary, and dignified return and reintegration of refugees and displaced persons, in partnership with UNHCR and IOM.
• Executive leadership shall be limited to two elected terms of five years. Transitional authority shall not exceed four years. Succession during incapacity or resignation shall follow a lawful, civilian-supervised process.
3. Transitional Governance Framework
• National Transitional Council: Form a broad-based civilian body representing all regions, ethnic groups, women, youth, traditional authorities, and civil society.
• Electoral Reform and Transitional Governance: A transitional, independent electoral commission shall oversee the return to democratic rule, including fair voter registration, diaspora voting inclusion, and civic education.
• Constitutional Convention: Within 12 months of transition, convene a fully participatory process to draft a new federal constitution anchored in ancestral values and democratic norms.
• Security Sector Reform: Integrate all fighters into a professional, apolitical national army under civilian oversight. Launch a transparent mass disarmament initiative.
• Vetting of individuals: All security personnel integrated into future national forces shall undergo rigorous vetting to exclude individuals responsible for human rights abuses or violations of international law.
• Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation: Establish mechanisms for transitional justice including truth commissions, restitution, and community-led peacebuilding rooted in customary practices. These mechanisms shall be survivor-centered, include gender-based violence accountability, and offer options for international or hybrid tribunals if national processes lack capacity or impartiality.
• Right to Reparation: Victims of serious human rights violations shall have the right to reparations, including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-recurrence.
• Survivor-Centered Justice: All transitional justice and accountability mechanisms shall be designed in consultation with survivors and prioritize their dignity, safety, and agency throughout the process.
• Institution Building: Design credible, inclusive national institutions that enforce checks and balances, prevent authoritarianism, and deliver services equitably.
• Civil Society Oversight Mechanisms: Independent civil society, media, and community-based monitors shall be empowered to hold transitional institutions accountable and ensure public transparency throughout the federal transition.
• Democratic Deliberation: Promote respectful internal dialogue and resolve differences through consensus and democratic deliberation.
• Secure Coordination: Establish secure communication protocols and shared information systems to coordinate SSFDA’s political, humanitarian, and community-led activities.
• Representative Leadership: The SSFDA leadership shall be composed of delegated representatives from its constituent organizations and guided by shared mandates. It shall meet regularly and operate on consensus or qualified majority decisions for matters of national significance.
• Majority-Based Leadership: Major decisions within SSFDA shall be made by qualified majority to ensure unity and legitimacy.
• Strategic Planning: Develop shared strategies for federal transition, civic rebuilding, and post-conflict stabilization in consultation with communities.
• Collective Integrity: SSFDA members shall refrain from unilateral actions or engagements that undermine collective decisions.
• Accountability Measures: Violations of Charter principles may trigger internal review and corrective action in line with SSFDA’s mission and code of conduct.
• International Advisor Panlel IAP: SSFDA shall, where appropriate, invite independent advisory oversight from distinguished international partners through a non-binding International Advisory Panel (IAP). The SSFDA IAP shall be formed to enhance oversight and guidance of our transitional governance structures, promote alignment with international norms, and support public confidence through principled and transparent engagement. The IAP shall operate under its own charter, fully aligned with the principles and commitments of the SSFDA Charter.
4 Security Governance & Oversight
Security Policy Formulation: Draft and adopt a people-centered, inclusive Security Policy that defines security priorities, roles, and institutions based on public needs—not elite survival.
Community Security Oversight:
Establish independent, community-based monitoring and grievance mechanisms to investigate and report abuses by security forces—prioritizing protection for women, youth, IDPs, and civilians in conflict zones.Right to Defensive Protection:
Communities retain the right to self-defense until trusted federal forces are deployed and capable of ensuring equal protection for all. SSFDA affirms that disarmament without security is not peace.Sequenced and Conditional Disarmament:
Disarmament shall occur in phases, tied to verified security guarantees and the establishment of federal protection forces. Integration into national forces shall be contingent on clear vetting to exclude individuals responsible for war crimes, abuses against civilians, or corruption—ensuring professionalization without undermining community self-defense.Strategic Security Governance: Security shall be redefined as a public good—never a tool of repression—and placed fully under the authority of democratically elected federal institutions. It shall serve to protect all people equally, not to entrench any individual or regime. A federal security strategy shall be developed through inclusive public consultation, and an independent Civilian Security Oversight Commission shall be established to monitor conduct, prevent abuse, and ensure transparency in appointments, operations, and budgeting.
Federal Security Vetting Board:
A transitional, civilian-led body with international technical support to oversee the screening of all officers and fighters proposed for integration into federal forces.Biometric Registration: All individuals considered for integration into federal forces shall be registered through a secure biometric system to ensure transparency, prevent payroll fraud, and uphold the integrity of national service. Biometric records shall be independently overseen by the Federal Security Vetting Board and subject to periodic audit.
Security Sector Professionalization:
Launch non-partisan national training academies for military, police, and judiciary personnel, with mandatory courses in civic ethics, inter-ethnic trust building, and international human rights law.Security Governance Reform Agenda:
Reject the discredited “train and equip” model that empowered warlords. SSFDA shall overhaul South Sudan’s security sector based on civilian command, accountability, transparent budgeting, and rule of law.
5. NSS Dismantlement & Reform Provisions
• Explicit NSS Ban: No agency shall operate with powers of arrest, detention, or surveillance outside of constitutional limits. The National Security Service (NSS), as currently constituted, shall be dissolved and replaced with a civilian-led intelligence bureau with no detention powers and full parliamentary oversight.
• Illegal Detention Center Closure: All detention facilities operated outside the Ministry of Justice shall be closed, and detainees either charged or released. Facilities such as the Blue House, Hai Jalaba, and Riverside shall be decommissioned.
• Commercial Activity Ban: No security service member shall hold shares or sit on the board of any commercial enterprise. All NSS-linked companies shall be placed under immediate forensic investigation.
• Asset Recovery and International Cooperation: An Independent Asset Recovery Unit shall be established to identify and repatriate stolen assets associated with NSS officers and companies, in coordination with international partners and sanctions frameworks.
• Whistleblower Protection: A National Whistleblower Protection Act shall shield civil servants, journalists, and citizens from NSS retaliation when exposing corruption or abuse.
• Future Civilian Intelligence Functions: Should a future government determine the need for an intelligence service, it shall be established under civilian authority, with clear constitutional limits, judicial oversight, and parliamentary accountability. Under no circumstances shall such an agency operate secret detention facilities or engage in domestic political repression.
6. Rule of Law and Justice Guarantees
To ensure justice, protect civil liberties, and build a constitutional order where state power is limited by law, SSFDA commits to the following foundational legal principles:
Right to Peaceful Assembly and Protest: Every person shall have the right to peaceful assembly, protest, and association without fear of intimidation, surveillance, or retaliation.
Media Oversight and Protection: An independent media commission shall be established to protect press freedom, mediate public complaints, and ensure journalists' safety and editorial independence.
Principle of Legality: No person shall be prosecuted or punished for any act or omission which did not constitute a criminal offense under national or international law at the time it was committed.
Prohibition of Retroactive Laws: Laws shall not apply retroactively to create or expand criminal liability, except in cases of crimes under international law, including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
Definition of Arbitrary Detention: Arbitrary detention shall include any deprivation of liberty without legal basis, or through procedures that fail to observe international standards of fairness, non-discrimination, proportionality, and due process.
Right to Legal Remedies: Every person shall have the right to challenge the lawfulness of their detention and to seek redress for violations of their rights before an independent and impartial court.
Prohibition of Secret Detention: All persons deprived of liberty shall be held only in officially recognized detention facilities. Such facilities must maintain public registries and guarantee immediate access to family members and legal counsel.
Right to Timely Court Review of Detention: Every person shall have the right to appear before a competent court no later than 72 hours from the time of arrest or detention, in order to challenge the lawfulness of such detention.
Right to Counsel: Every person shall have the right to immediate and confidential access to a legal representative upon arrest, detention, or accusation of criminal conduct.
Accountability of Law Enforcement: All law enforcement agencies shall operate under civilian oversight, and must at all times act in accordance with constitutional mandates, the rule of law, and internationally recognized human rights standards.
Protection Against Abuse of Power: No official, agent, or institution shall be immune from legal accountability. Any abuse of office, arbitrary arrest, torture, or extrajudicial action shall be subject to prosecution.
Environmental Accountability: Destruction of natural ecosystems, poisoning of water sources, and illegal logging shall be prosecuted under national and international environmental law.
Judicial Independence and Oversight: Judicial bodies shall be independent, impartial, and accessible to all persons without discrimination, and shall be funded and protected by law to ensure their independence. A non-partisan Judicial Service Commission shall oversee the appointment, promotion, and discipline of judges, ensuring merit-based and independent judiciary governance.
Incorporation of International Treaties: SSFDA shall domesticate into national law all provisions of international and regional human rights instruments ratified by South Sudan, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Civilian Protection from Military Jurisdiction: No civilian shall be subject to trial before military tribunals. All persons accused of offenses shall be entitled to a fair and public hearing by a civilian court established by law.
International Human Rights treaties: In case of conflict, provisions of international human rights treaties ratified by South Sudan shall prevail over inconsistent national legislation or executive actions
7. People-Powered Nation-Building
• Youth Empowerment: Establish youth education, training, and employment programs to involve young people in governance and national reconstruction.
• Women’s Participation: Guarantee women’s leadership roles in political, military, and civic structures. Ensure protection against gender-based violence.
• Diaspora Engagement: Invite the diaspora to actively shape the federal future—through investment, civic dialogue, and return-to-serve programs.
• Elders and Spiritual Leaders: Recognize elders as moral guides and traditional leaders as custodians of social harmony and land justice.
• Religious Freedom: All faiths and belief systems shall be equally respected. Religious freedom shall be protected as a cornerstone of human dignity and peaceful coexistence.
• Inclusive Economy: We commit to building a resilient, inclusive economy through infrastructure investment, agricultural revival, and equitable oil revenue distribution.
• Economic Rights and Accountability: Every citizen has the right to benefit equitably from national wealth. All public expenditures, extractive contracts, and sovereign loans shall be publicly disclosed and subject to audit.
• Disability & Survivor Protections: The federal government shall ensure dignity and support for persons with disabilities, war victims, and the elderly, including access to health, education, and public services.
8. Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Accountability
South Sudan’s future depends on truth, justice, and a commitment to healing. SSFDA affirms that durable peace cannot rest on impunity.
Independent Investigations: All parties to the conflict shall be subject to investigation for grave human rights violations and breaches of international law.
Hybrid or International Courts: In cases where national courts are unable or unwilling to prosecute atrocity crimes fairly, hybrid or international tribunals shall be sought.
No Amnesty for Atrocity Crimes: No law, decree, or agreement shall provide amnesty or immunity for acts of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, or gross violations of human rights.
Witness and Victim Protection: All survivors, witnesses, and whistleblowers participating in justice mechanisms shall be protected by law from retaliation.
Victims Right to Reparation: Victims of serious human rights violations shall have the right to reparations, including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-recurrence.
Survivor-Centered Justice: All transitional justice mechanisms shall be designed in consultation with survivors and prioritize their dignity, safety, and agency throughout the process.
Ban on Politically-Motivated Displacement: No authority shall displace individuals or communities for political, ethnic, or economic gain. Victims of forced displacement shall be entitled to restitution or return.
Public Education on Atrocity Crimes: The federal government shall implement public truth-telling and memorialization programs to ensure that the causes, consequences, and crimes of the past are never forgotten or repeated.
Independence The independence of the judiciary shall be constitutionally guaranteed, with secure tenure, transparent appointments, and full protection from political interference
9. International Engagement and Equal Partnership
• Global Solidarity: Appeal to the AU, IGAD, UN, and democratic governments to support an inclusive and people-led peace process.
• Unified Diplomacy: All diplomatic or resource-related engagements shall be coordinated through SSFDA leadership to ensure consistency, legitimacy, and accountability.
• Accountability Mechanisms: Cooperate with international efforts to freeze stolen assets, enforce sanctions against the regime, and direct humanitarian aid to civilians.
• Equal and Dignified Relations: South Sudan shall emerge as a sovereign and equal partner in global diplomacy—not a dependent client state. We seek principled cooperation, not charity.
• Alignment with Regional and Global Frameworks: We affirm our support for regional and international frameworks, including the African Union Transitional Justice Policy, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and all IGAD and AU charters for peace, democracy, and human rights.
10. Institutional Instruments of Protection and Survival Arms of SSFDA
In fulfillment of the People’s Charter and the moral duty to protect life and territory, two official commissions are hereby recognized:
The People and Ancestral Lands Protection Unit (PALPU) — tasked with the territorial, civilian, and humanitarian defense of SSFDA-aligned zones, operating under strict discipline and moral restraint.
The Federal Relief Commission (FRC) — tasked with humanitarian assistance, famine response, medical outreach, and the preservation of civilian dignity during conflict and displacement.
Both entities shall remain accountable to the SSFDA Political Council, subject to Charter principles, and must never act in contradiction to the civilian values enshrined herein.
10.1 Protection and Liberation People’s Unit (PALPU)
• Core mandate: The Protection and Liberation People’s Unit (PALPU) shall serve as the protective arm of SSFDA, established under international humanitarian law and accountable to civilian authority. Its core mandate is to defend civilians, safeguard SSFDA-administered zones, resist oppressive forces, and uphold the federal democratic vision of South Sudan.
• PALPU Oversight: PALPU shall operate under the oversight of the SSFDA Council for Security and Defense, with command authority residing in the SSFDA Chairman and designated civilian leadership. It is not a conventional army of conquest, but a disciplined people’s force committed to civilian protection. All operations shall adhere to the Geneva Conventions and customary international law, with forces trained in ethical conduct, non-combatant engagement, and the defense of vulnerable populations.
• PALPU Integrity: To ensure integrity, PALPU shall be subject to internal audits and continuous monitoring by the SSFDA Transitional Inspectorate and the Human Rights Advisory Panel.
10.2 Federal Relief Commission (FRC)
• Humanitarian Agency: The Federal Relief Commission (FRC) shall function as SSFDA’s official humanitarian agency. Its mandate is to deliver emergency relief, nutrition services, medical assistance, and logistical support to communities affected by war, displacement, or natural disaster.
• Leadership: The FRC shall be led by a Commissioner General nominated by the SSFDA Executive and confirmed by the Humanitarian and Social Affairs Directorate. It shall operate as a semi-autonomous institution with decentralized offices across regions, coordinating efforts with UN agencies, churches, NGOs, and community leaders.
• Principles: The Commission shall adhere to the humanitarian principles of impartiality, neutrality, and non-discrimination. All programs shall be subject to annual audits and civil society oversight.
10.3 Unified Principles of Federal Deployment
• Principles: Together, PALPU and FRC represent SSFDA’s dual commitment to lawful resistance and compassionate service. These institutions form the operational backbone of a people-first transition.
• Function: Both shall act independently of political agendas, shall never be used for personal gain or factional control, and shall remain accountable to the Transitional Executive Council and bound by the SSFDA code of conduct and principles of civilian supremacy.
11. Call to the People of South Sudan
To the 64 proud nations of our shared homeland —
Acholi, Adio, Anyuak, Aja, Avokaya, Azande, Baka, Balanda, Bari, Bongo, Burun, Cie, Didinga, Dinka, Feroghe, Gollo, Hutu, Jur (Madi), Jur (Chollo), Jur (Luo), Kaliko, Kakwa, Keliko, Kresh, Kuku, Lango, Lolubo, Lopit, Lotuko, Lulubo, Makaraka, Mandari, Madi, Mundari, Moro, Murle, Ndogo, Nuer, Nyangatom, Nyepo, Otuho, Pojulu, Shilluk (Chollo), Sillok, Taposa (Toposa), Tenet, Togoyo, Wadi, Woro, Uduk, Yulu, Bviri, Mangayat, Lokoya, Nyangwara, Lugbara, Lendu, Ndo, Lokwa, Longarim, Mabaan, Mabia, Ngulgule, Ndonyo, Thuri, and Zande. including but not limited to the 64 nations named here.
Your names are etched into the soil of this land. Your voices are essential to its future.
This is your Charter.
Let us rise above fear and fragmentation. Let no tribe rule alone, no child grow up in fear, and no voice be silenced. Reclaim your dignity, your heritage, and your future.
We, the SSFDA, pledge to lead with humility, serve with integrity, and build with unity. Let this Charter be our compass as we walk together toward a free, democratic, and federal South Sudan.
Declaration
We, the undersigned representatives of the South Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance (SSFDA), in consultation with communities and partners across the nation and in exile, hereby adopt this Charter as our binding commitment to the people of South Sudan and the world. It shall guide all our political actions, diplomatic engagements, and transitional negotiations.
This Charter shall serve as a foundational reference document for any future peace agreement, transitional arrangement, or constitutional drafting process. We call upon international guarantors and regional bodies to recognize it as a declaration of national will and democratic intent.
This Charter may be reviewed and amended by consensus of SSFDA’s leadership council in consultation with member representatives and civil society partners
Signed in the name of the People of South Sudan.
Samuel Mut Gai Dhap
Chairman SSFDA