Quota Ambitions Versus Reality
The Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan reaffirmed a 35 percent quota for women across all public institutions. Five years later, statistics published in December 2025 show that the promise remains partly fulfilled, with performance varying sharply by branch.
The presidency meets one third representation thanks to two female vice-presidents, yet national, state and local bodies fall short, underscoring what analysts describe as ‘implementation fatigue’ (surveys 2025).
Executive Representation Trends
Women now hold six of thirty-five ministerial portfolios, down from nine a year earlier. Deputy minister posts remain unchanged at two out of ten. Advocates say the slide reflects weak enforcement measures and reliance on political goodwill rather than binding sanctions.
Overall, female presence in the presidency stands at 33 percent, but drops to 17 percent among ministers and 20 percent among deputy ministers. The figures illustrate a widening gap between symbolic inclusion and substantive access to executive influence.
Legislative Chambers in Focus
Female membership in the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly declined from 31 percent to 30 percent after four seats were reallocated to men, with one still vacant. Committee leadership tells a mixed story: women chair 21 percent and deputy-chair 37 percent of panels.
Within the Council of States, women occupy 27 of 100 seats and one of three speakership positions. All fifteen clerkships, however, remain held by men, revealing gendered bottlenecks in parliamentary administration.
Sub-National Leadership Gaps
No woman currently serves as state governor, and only one female deputy governor remains nationwide. At county level, women lead two of seventy-nine counties. Ministers in state cabinets register 22 percent female representation, far below the constitutional target.
Special Administrative Areas perform slightly better, with up to 28 percent female officials, yet leadership roles remain male-dominated. Three states boast female speakers, but female deputy speakers have fallen from five to two.
Beyond Numbers: Pathways to Parity
Observers recommend entrenching the 35 percent quota in binding legislation, coupled with penalties for non-compliance, gender-responsive electoral rules, and transparent party nomination processes. They note that constitutional, security and justice reforms now underway offer windows to institutionalise these measures (stakeholder consultations 2025).
Capacity-building, mentorship, protection against violence and sustained funding are cited as vital for translating appointments into influence. Civil society urges continuous monitoring and public reporting to keep quota commitments visible throughout the extended transition to elections in December 2026.