Abstract:
This article critically examines measures adopted by the
Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) in South
Sudan to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. It analyses the implications of
such measures on constitutionalism and socio-economic rights of women
and children. In so doing, it reveals that policy decisions adopted by the
RTGoNU exclusively focused on fighting the Coronavirus at the expense of
the socio-economic rights of zol meskin (common person). In particular,
the decisions lack supportive social protection packages to cushion the
low-income households that depend on daily hustling, impacted by the
measures adopted. This led to a disproportionate impact on women and
children whose rights to livelihoods and education are more adversely
affected. Such policy decisions could deepen poverty margins that
already exist in South Sudanese society. As schools remain closed, with
the exception of primary eight and senior four candidates,1 the hope of
more than 2.2 million children who are already out of the education system hangs in the balance.2 In sum, the article demonstrates that
the fight against COVID-19 appears to have been won but at a cost
of losing the fight against already-rampant socio-economic inequalities.
This in part is due to the fact that, on the one hand, measures adopted
to fight the pandemic appear to be successful at flattening the curve
as revealed by the cumulative numbers of patients and deaths but, on
the other, such policies have arguably exacerbated the socio-economic
conditions of the poor who already live on the brink of famine as warned
by the United Nations agencies in keeping with the Integrated Food
Security Phase Classification reports.3 The article thus recommends
that the government and policy makers should consider three critical
lessons for the future: (a) strengthening social welfare sector to protect
vulnerable households from sudden onsets; (b) enhance disaster risk
and preparedness capacities to effectively deal with pandemics in a way
that protects the most vulnerable people; and (c) strengthen democratic
governance and rule of law as catalysts for well-managed emergency
responses.
