South Sudan · Government
Government and administration in South Sudan
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of state — President
- Also head of government; the 2018 agreement added several Vice-Presidents.
- Executive — Council of Ministers
- Composed under power-sharing quotas set by the peace agreement.
- Legislature — Transitional National Legislative Assembly and Council of States
- Reconstituted in 2021 under the agreement.
- Judiciary — Judicial Service Commission
- Responsible for judicial appointments; capacity constrained.
How legislation is made
Bills are introduced by ministers or members, considered in committee and passed by the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, with the Council of States participating on matters affecting the states. The President assents. Because the legislature is constituted by power-sharing quota rather than election, and because several key bills including the permanent constitutional process have stalled, the process is transitional rather than settled.
Enforcement institutions
- Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
- Public prosecution and legal advice to government.
- South Sudan National Police Service
- Civil policing; capacity varies sharply outside Juba.
- Bank of South Sudan
- Central bank; oversees a heavily oil-dependent public finance system.
- Audit Chamber
- Constitutional audit body reporting to the legislature.
Government bodies and regulators
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