Riots broke out in Uror County, Jonglei State, South Sudan, disrupting the SPLM primary elections on Friday. The unrest occurred between supporters of Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin and those of his two rivals, Wany Lam Tuor and Tang Chatim. The elections, part of the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement's (SPLM) internal candidate-selection process, have been postponed.
The SPLM delegation overseeing the voting process left Uror County on Friday due to the unrest, according to Biel Lam Pech, the caretaker commissioner of Uror County. Pech stated that the delegation informed him they would proceed to Ayod County and return after two days. They were expected to arrive back in Yuai on Sunday.
Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, seeking re-election to the National Legislative Assembly, described how the disturbance began. He was the first to cast his vote, and other voters from Weckol started arriving. However, all votes were going into his ballot box, while the boxes for the other two candidates received no votes, or very few.
Marial stated that the other candidates and their supporters interrupted the process after noticing the voting trend. They mobilized crowds, particularly supporters of the third candidate, to prevent people from voting and direct them to another queue where the ballot papers were not registered for voting. This incident caused the dispute.
Dr. Marial has held several senior government positions in Sudan and South Sudan. Before independence, he served as state minister for international cooperation in Sudan's Government of National Unity from 2005 to 2006. He later served as minister of regional cooperation in the autonomous Government of Southern Sudan.
After South Sudan gained independence in July 2011, Marial continued as minister of information and broadcasting and served as the government's spokesperson. In July 2013, President Salva Kiir appointed him minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, a position he held until March 2016.
The postponement of the SPLM primary elections in Uror County has raised concerns about the ruling party's ability to conduct a smooth and peaceful electoral process. The incident highlights the challenges facing South Sudan's electoral process, particularly in the run-up to the national convention and general elections scheduled for December 2026.
Key points
- The SPLM primary elections in Uror County have been postponed due to riots between supporters of Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin and his rivals.
- Dr. Marial has held several senior government positions in Sudan and South Sudan, including minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation.
- The incident has raised concerns about the ruling party's ability to conduct a smooth and peaceful electoral process in South Sudan.
