Another veteran politician has lost the ruling SPLM primaries in Uror County, Jonglei State, adding to a series of defeats for senior party figures seeking nominations ahead of South Sudan’s planned elections.
Former member of parliament Kuony War Jock was defeated by Gatdet Bayak Riek in the SPLM primaries for Constituency No. 8, representing Uror North, in the National Legislative Assembly.
The result follows the defeat of veteran politician Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, who lost the SPLM primary for Uror North Constituency No. 9 to a relatively little-known political figure.
Three candidates contested the SPLM nomination for Constituency No. 8, which comprises Pulchol, Motot and Pathai payams: Kuony War Jock, Peter Nin Tut Kuei and Gatdet Bayak Riek.
Before voting began in Yuai town, Josephine Napwon Cosmas, head of the SPLM high-level committee overseeing the primaries in Jonglei State, read out a resignation letter submitted by Bayak in Juba.
The resignation was confirmed by Gen. Akec Tong Aleu, director-general of the Internal Security Bureau of the National Security Service. Bayak had been serving as an officer in the security agency, and his resignation cleared the way for him to contest the party primaries.
Addressing party members before the vote, Peter Nin Tut Kuei urged supporters to elect him, saying his priority would be to unite the people of Uror North, who he said had suffered for years because of divisions within the community.
He said peace would be central to his programme and pledged to work towards building hospitals, schools and other social amenities in the area. He also promised to promote unity among the people of Uror County and ensure they were adequately represented in Juba.
Kuony War Jock described the primaries as a positive step for the party, saying he would continue working to improve service delivery if re-elected.
He pledged to expand public services and continue development programmes that he said he had initiated.
Bayak, who resigned from the National Security Service to contest the seat, said his campaign was centred on development and equality.
He pledged to unite the people of Uror County and promote equal representation and treatment for the communities he would represent in the National Legislative Assembly in Juba.
Napwon said candidates who lost the primaries would still be accommodated within the party, adding that the winner would become the SPLM flagbearer in the upcoming elections.
Announcing the results, she said 315 people had been registered to vote in the Constituency No. 8 primary, but 316 ballots were cast.
According to the figures she announced, Kuony War Jock received 70 votes, Peter Nin Tut Kuei secured 80, while Bayak won with 152 votes.
Napwon declared Bayak the winner and urged him to unite the people of Uror County, treating those who had contested against him as members of the same community.
Kuony’s background
Kuony War Jock is a veteran politician and senior member of the ruling SPLM. He is the son of a renowned traditional chief and previously served as chairperson of the Jonglei State Assembly’s Committee on Development, Finance, Economy and Public Accounts.
In 2010, he was elected to the National Legislative Assembly to represent Uror North Constituency No. 8.
His defeat, following Marial’s loss in the party primaries, highlights the challenges facing established politicians seeking the ruling party’s nominations ahead of elections scheduled for December 2026.
and then