Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin has lost the SPLM primary election for Uror South Constituency No. 9 in Jonglei State, ending his bid for re-election to the National Legislative Assembly, where he has represented the area since 2010.
Wany Lam Tuor won Tuesday’s election with 136 votes, while Marial came second with 92 votes. The third candidate, Tang Chatiem, received 87 votes.
The vote was held in the town of Yuai after the electoral process was interrupted last Friday.
Before voting began, the three candidates pledged allegiance to the SPLM under President Salva Kiir, reaffirmed their commitment to the party’s manifesto and undertook to accept the results and support whoever emerged victorious.
Marial, who was seeking re-election, urged supporters to back him, citing his record of service to Uror County and South Sudan in various capacities, including as minister of foreign affairs. He said his service in senior government positions had helped raise the profile of Uror and its people.
Wany Lam, a little-known young official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told supporters that he would be the voice of the people of Uror. Acknowledging South Sudan’s economic difficulties, he said he would avoid making unrealistic promises but remain committed to representing the county’s residents.
Wany is aligned with a group of SPLM officials in Uror County associated with Rachael Nyadak Paul, who is seeking the governorship of Jonglei State.
He also urged voters to support his candidacy, saying Marial, as a prominent politician and son of Uror, could still secure a place in national politics through presidential appointments to parliament. He said President Salva Kiir would not overlook Marial, whom he described as a senior SPLM figure, when appointing members to the National Legislative Assembly.
Tang Chatiem, a former commissioner of Uror County, described the primary election as free and fair. Despite losing, he said he was satisfied with the outcome and would continue serving the people of Uror in other capacities.
Josephine Napwon Cosmas, head of the SPLM high-level committee overseeing the primary elections, urged the winner to represent all six payams of Uror South and work to unite the people of Uror County.
She cautioned against elected representatives remaining in Juba without visiting their constituencies and engaging with the people they represent.
Napwon described Marial as an elder of Uror, South Sudan and the SPLM, crediting him with significant contributions to the development of the county and the country. She said he would remain an important figure in the ruling party.
Uror County is one of three counties in Jonglei State predominantly inhabited by the Lou Nuer community.
The primaries form part of the ruling SPLM’s internal candidate-selection process ahead of its national convention and general elections scheduled for December 2026.
Political Career
Dr. Marial has held several senior government positions in Sudan and South Sudan.
Before South Sudan’s 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, followed by appointments as minister of commerce and industry and minister of information and broadcasting.
After South Sudan gained independence in July 2011, Marial continued as minister of information and broadcasting and served as government spokesperson.
In July 2013, President Salva Kiir appointed him minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, a position he held until his dismissal in March 2016.
In August 2019, Kiir appointed him presidential adviser and special envoy. He subsequently represented the government in peace talks with opposition groups that had not signed the 2018 revitalised peace agreement.
In April 2021, Marial was appointed minister of presidential affairs, replacing Nhial Deng Nhial. He held the position until November 2023, when Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro succeeded him.
Marial is a senior member of the ruling SPLM and has represented Uror County in the National Legislative Assembly since 2010.
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