Customary courts restart after chieftaincy elections
Customary law courts at payam and boma levels have resumed operations in Rumbek Central County after chieftaincy elections ended, according to local authorities. Officials say the move is meant to restore routine community justice and reinforce the traditional dispute-resolution chain.
Authorities brief 120 chiefs across seven payams
County officials on Friday met newly elected chiefs to outline expectations for the return to duty. The session was organized by Lakes State Minister of Local Government Mabor Meen Wol and Rumbek Central County Commissioner Dut Manak Akuot, and drew 120 chiefs from all seven payams.
Chiefs welcome renewed mandates, cite local challenges
Sultan Sabit Kuac, head chief of the Cueiadukan Payam regional court, said chiefs felt encouraged after communities renewed their mandates. “We are happy to the community and the government of Lakes State for renewing our mandates,” Kuac told Radio Tamazuj.
Kuac said elections started at boma level and moved upward to payam level, and chiefs were instructed to resume work despite difficulties. “There are challenges facing us in the community, and we shall keep talking about them,” he said.
Boma and payam courts urged to be first stop for disputes
Kuac emphasized that customary cases should begin at the lowest level of the traditional system. “We want our community to begin their cases from the boma executive chief and sub-chief before the case reaches the head chief of the payam,” he said.
He urged residents not to bypass local courts by taking matters directly to county or state institutions, arguing this often leads to cases being redirected back to payam or boma structures after lower chiefs were overstepped.
Customary jurisdiction debates: family and livestock cases
Kuac called for certain disputes to be returned to boma and payam customary courts, citing girl pregnancies, elopements, adultery, cattle disputes, and theft of goats or chickens. “These local cases are ours under customary law, but they are now being tried in county or state high courts,” he said.
Concerns over detention of chiefs raised in community talks
Kuac also raised concern about what he described as random detention of chiefs by authorities. He said the matter was discussed during the Agar community conference, where participants agreed that issues involving a chief should first be handled within the community before any arrest.
Local Government Act guidance and stability focus
Commissioner Dut Manak Akuot said the meeting guided chiefs to resume duties in line with the Local Government Act of 2009, as amended in 2011. He detailed the county’s structure: one paramount chief, nine regional court presidents, 22 executive chiefs and 88 sub-chiefs.
Akuot said chiefs were elected by communities, with the process witnessed by the government and the electoral committee. He urged them to prioritize stability, timely dispute resolution and development, and to work in their sections rather than “loiter in town or offices.”
Warnings to police and lawyers over customary cases
Akuot cautioned police, lawyers and courts against taking cases that fall under customary jurisdiction without involving chiefs. He said chiefs can appeal to his office and to the minister of local government if matters are taken from them without notice.
He also urged citizens to follow proper legal procedures and avoid opening cases in military barracks or other unauthorized venues. Akuot said cases such as girl pregnancies and elopements should be addressed by local chiefs unless they amount to criminal matters.
Peaceful elections and immediate return to duty
Akuot said chieftaincy elections in Rumbek Central County were conducted peacefully and thanked communities for cooperation. Minister Mabor Meen Wol said the state’s chieftaincy elections are underway, starting with Rumbek Central, and that those elected were instructed to resume work immediately.
“We congratulated them, gave them judicial powers and reminded them to discharge their duties lawfully as required by the government and the community,” Wol said.