Rumbek East chieftaincy elections under scrutiny
Candidates and voters in Rumbek East County say the chieftaincy elections were marked by fraud claims, malpractices and irregularities. Their concerns focus on positions described as “deferred” in several payams, after an order in December 2025 called for fresh elections in Rumbek Central and Rumbek East.
December 2025 order and the scope of the vote
Panther Riak Dor, contesting for head chief of the Cueiagak Payam regional court, said a state decree was understood to open all chieftaincy posts. He told Radio Tamazuj that the announcement covered head chiefs, executive chiefs, sub-chiefs and regional court members across the relevant areas.
According to Riak Dor, candidates for head chief roles were required to pay a nonrefundable registration fee of 5 million South Sudanese pounds (SSP). He said the message circulated widely across Lakes State, shaping how candidates planned and raised resources.
Candidates cite costs, confusion and “deferred” positions
“I was a candidate contesting for head chief in Cueiagak Payam,” Riak Dor said. “We do not know whether the government deceived us or if it was a misunderstanding.” He said contestants were later informed that some positions would not be contested, and that this was not communicated earlier.
Riak Dor said his campaign spending reached 82 million SSP and included slaughtering 12 super bulls, selling 40 cows, and slaughtering 32 goats to feed voters. “If the government had informed us that the head chief position for Cueiagak Payam would not be contested, I would not have wasted my resources,” he said.
He urged greater clarity going forward. “This kind of deception fuels gossip about corruption and erodes trust. The government must be honest and transparent in its decisions,” Riak Dor added, framing the issue as one of public confidence rather than only personal losses.
Civil society warns about trust and local stability
Daniel Laat, coordinator for the Community Empowerment Program in Lakes State, said communities initially welcomed the elections. He argued problems emerged when some candidates were barred after paying fees and being confirmed eligible, then learning late that positions were “deferred”.
“The term ‘deferred’ caused confusion,” Laat said, noting that candidates had already campaigned. He added that leaving dates unspecified can damage community trust and, in his view, “could threaten the peace we are enjoying,” highlighting the link between local governance and social cohesion.
Lakes State elections committee explains deferrals
Akec Machek, chairperson of the chieftaincy elections committee, responded to the allegations without directly confirming or denying government involvement in irregularities. He said positions were deferred for several reasons, including health conditions of incumbents, provisional appointment periods, or administrative requirements.
“In Cueiagak Payam, four positions were deferred because incumbents were ill or had been recently appointed and their provisional periods had not elapsed,” Machek said. He also reported that five candidates were unopposed, 11 won after elections, and 13 lost.
In Maleng-agok Payam, Machek said 23 candidates were screened. He stated that three positions were deferred due to provisional periods, one due to illness, five candidates ran unopposed, six won elections, and eight lost.
“Unopposed candidates are those where the community convened and no one contested their positions,” Machek said. The committee’s explanation presents deferrals as procedural decisions, while critics maintain that earlier communication could have reduced frustration.
What the dispute reveals about local election management
The dispute centres less on the principle of holding fresh chieftaincy elections than on how changes were communicated and implemented. Candidates argue that late shifts on eligibility and contested posts carry financial and reputational costs, while officials cite practical constraints affecting particular incumbents.
For communities in Rumbek East, the episode underscores how administrative language, such as “deferred,” can shape perceptions of fairness. Stakeholders interviewed converge on one point: clearer, earlier information from authorities would help sustain confidence in traditional leadership elections (Radio Tamazuj).