September 2-3, 2025 (RAJAF, South Sudan) With funding from the European Union, ICPALD held a two-day South Sudan Policy Makers’ session on the ratification of the IGAD Transhumance Protocol, bringing together national parliamentarians and experts from line ministries.
In opening on behalf of IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Head of Mission to South Sudan David Kwaje said, “Transhumance is not merely a cultural practice; transhumance is a sophisticated economic and survival strategy that contributes up to 10% of GDP in our region and supports nearly 70% of pastoral livelihoods. The challenges it faces, including climate change, resource-based conflicts, and administrative hurdles are mainly cross-border by nature.”
Hon. Ghada James Killa, Chairperson-Committee of Agriculture & Food Security, TNLA added that “the Protocol is important in advancing animal health and production by tracking animal diseases and vaccination.”
Dr. Guyo Roba, while speaking on behalf of ICPALD Director Dr. Dereje Wakjira said, “transhumance contributes to the economy of countries’ trade and genetic improvement. Today is an important day to have important conversations, internalize the Protocol and help us fast track the ratification process.”
Convened under Phase II Program of Support to Free Movement of Persons and Transhumance in the IGAD Region, the delegates engaged in an interactive plenary session on Articles of the IGAD Protocol on Transhumance during which clarifications were made on some of the provisions.
Thereafter, representatives from South Sudan Ministries of Justice & Constitutional Affairs, Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation, and Livestock & Fisheries, outlined the steps towards ratifying the Protocol in parliament. An action plan was agreed upon between the relevant South Sudan ministries and parliamentary standing committees, specifying roles and execution timelines. The Honorable Members of Parliament also presented recommendations, for IGAD’s consideration, in facilitating this process.
In closing, the Chair of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Eng. Joseph Malwal Deng emphasized that the Protocol is a beneficial instrument to South Sudan since it can enumerate the country’s livestock and animal resources, through transhumance certificate records. These numbers will inform decisions on how to exploit the full socio-economic system of the livestock sector.
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Background
South Sudan was the second Country to sign the Protocol on 17th June 2022 in Juba, South Sudan. This meeting purposed to accelerate the ratification process of the Protocol by engaging key national stakeholders of the Government of South Sudan, especially the National assembly standing committees on Foreign Affairs, Legal Affairs, Agriculture, Cabinet Affairs, Livestock & Animal Resources. Office of Treaties Legal Department and Ministry of Justice-AG’s Office also form part of the process.
