The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) is proud to announce that South Sudan has been officially selected as the host country for the Eastern African Civil Society Network (ECONet). This landmark decision was made during the regional ECONet assembly held in Kampala, Uganda, on October 7, 2025.

This marks a historic milestone for South Sudan, as it will be the first time the country hosts a regional civil society platform of this magnitude. The selection reflects growing confidence in South Sudan’s commitment to regional cooperation, civic engagement, and democratic development.

Mr. Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of CEPO, stated that South Sudan’s selection as the host country for ECONet marks a significant milestone in its journey toward championing regional integration. This achievement not only positions the country for greater global exposure but also brings with it valuable employment opportunities. Moreover, this remarkable development serves as a clear acknowledgment of the vital role South Sudan’s civil society plays in regional engagement. It is now imperative for the country’s leadership to stand in solidarity with civil society actors, as we work to elevate South Sudan’s status as a key and influential player in the region.

CEPO is urging the government of South Sudan to support the establishment of the ECONet in South Sudan fully. We expect more similar institutions to be established in South Sudan. This positive move is for the family of the civil society and the South Sudanese in general.

ECONet is a civil society platform for Eastern African countries namely Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda,  Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Réunion. ECONet works with AU, IGAD, EAC and COMESA. The Government of South Sudan will be registering ECONet as a regional civil society platform hosted in South Sudan. This means the head quarter of ECONet will be based in South Sudan. ECONet works on matters of peace, conflict prevention, governance, climate change and democratic transformation in the region of Eastern African countries.