South Sudanese activist declines regional event invitation over unequal delegate treatment

Manyang, an advocate of human rights and democratic governance, said he had been selected among 1,976 applicants from across Africa and beyond to attend the forum, which will convene under the theme, “Reimagining Global Governance: Africa and a World in Transition,” bringing together civil society organizations, policymakers, and citizens from across the continent.

In a statement on Thursday, Manyang thanked the organizers for selecting him but said he had decided not to attend after reflecting on his experience at the 64th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Egypt in 2019.

“My decision is informed by a previous experience in Egypt in 2019 when I attended the 64th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights,” Manyang said.

“During that period, I experienced what I perceived as unequal treatment of some delegates and civil society representatives from countries including Sudan, South Sudan, and others,” he added.

He said the experience left him with concerns about the ability of some participants to meaningfully engage in continental discussions.

“Our participation was, in practice, limited, and we were treated largely as observers rather than as active contributors to discussions,” he said.

“The environment did not reflect the inclusive and participatory principles that such continental engagements are intended to uphold.”

Manyang argued that forums aimed at strengthening citizen engagement and democratic governance should ensure that participants are given equal opportunities to contribute to deliberations.

“As a civil society actor, I believe meaningful participation is essential to the success of any forum that seeks to advance citizen engagement, democratic governance, human rights, and accountability,” he said.

“Participants should be able to contribute freely, engage openly, and have their perspectives respected regardless of their nationality, background, or organizational affiliation.”

Despite declining the invitation, Manyang stressed that his decision should not be interpreted as opposition to ECOSOCC or its mission.

“On the contrary, I strongly support initiatives that create genuine opportunities for citizens and civil society to influence policy and contribute to Africa’s development agenda,” he said.

He added that the decision reflected his commitment to the principles of meaningful civic participation and respect for civil society voices.

“Rather, my decision reflects concerns arising from my previous experience and my desire to remain consistent with the principles of meaningful civic participation and respect for civil society voices,” he said.

His decision comes as African institutions continue to emphasize greater citizen involvement in policymaking and governance processes across the continent.

ECOSOCC is the advisory organ of the African Union and the main channel of engagement between African citizens, civil society and AU institutions.

The previous editions of the Citizens’ Forum were held in Lusaka (2022), Nairobi (2023), Accra (2024) and Malabo (2025), each bringing civil society together with AU organs, Member States and development partners to produce recommendations that feed into AU processes and Agenda 2063.

The 2026 Forum sits within a week of ECOSOCC engagements in Egypt (20–27 June), held alongside the Africa Business Summit and the AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting. Six thematic streams structure the programme: UN Security Council reform, global financial justice, water and sanitation, climate justice, reparative justice, and AI governance.

sudanspost.com