AWEIL—Caretaker governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Charles Madut Akol has asked paramount chiefs to help maintain security, promote peace, and mobilize residents to participate in South Sudan’s December 22 anticipated elections.
Speaking during a meeting with 22 traditional leaders at the State Secretariat, Madut said chiefs have a key role in preparing communities for the elections by informing residents about the voting process and encouraging peaceful participation.
“The reason we are calling you is to ensure that everyone participates when the elections happen,” Madut said during the meeting on Thursday, October 14, 2026.
He said the state government wanted to preserve the relative peace in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and ensure that insecurity did not prevent residents from taking part in the polls.
“During these elections, we want your participation so that you don’t get disturbed due to insecurity. As we are peaceful in this state, we need it to remain as such,” he said.
While acknowledging that most residents in the state face economic difficulties, including food shortages, which could affect their participation in the elections, Madut told chiefs to educate their communities about the importance of voting despite the challenges.
The governor also told the traditional leaders to encourage voters to assess candidates based on their qualifications and ability to represent their communities in the legislature.
“You are on the ground, and the sons and daughters who are going to come to the grassroots looking for votes belong to you all. You know who is much better than the other to represent you in the house of laws,” he said.
“Let the choice be made fairly by you, as the competition is going to be high and becoming neck-and-neck. Prioritise the contestants based on their competencies and qualifications to enable them to do the representation effectively,” he added.
However, the chiefs raised concerns about insecurity and economic hardship, warning that theft and looting could undermine residents’ ability to participate freely in the elections.
Ayom Wek Ateny, paramount chief of Aweil South County, appealed to the state government to reinforce security patrols and address rising cases of theft and looting, which he said are rampant across the state.
He warned that residents could leave their homes and property vulnerable to criminals while queuing to vote if security forces failed to protect communities during the electoral process.
“If you want everyone to participate in this election, then make sure patrol units do their work as the local people go and queue and their properties will remain vulnerable to looting by thieves,” Ateny said.
Ateny linked the rising theft problem partly to unemployment, arguing that lack of jobs was contributing to insecurity in communities.
The meeting was called for by the state caretaker governor as South Sudan prepares for elections scheduled for December 22, 2026, the first since the country’s independence.