Newly appointed caretaker county commissioners, municipal mayors and local government chief administrators in Eastern Equatoria State have taken their oaths of office ahead of South Sudan’s planned December 2026 elections.
The officials were sworn in at the State Secretariat Hall in Torit before the President of the Eastern Equatoria High Court on Thursday.
Caretaker Governor Louis Lobong Lojore urged them to maintain peace, ensure equal security for political parties and prepare their areas for the election campaign.
“You are assigned a very difficult task at a critical moment, where our country and our people are going for democratic elections,” Lobong said.
He warned the officials that their decisions would be closely scrutinised and urged them to work with security agencies to prevent political incitement.
Lobong also instructed them to familiarise themselves with the Election Act, saying the state government would work with the National Elections Commission to provide them with relevant electoral laws.
Speaking on behalf of the officials, Lam Francis Gabriel, caretaker commissioner for Magwi County, pledged transparency, accountability and cooperation with state authorities and local communities.
Meanwhile, Vicky Kulang, deputy chairperson of the Eastern Equatoria State Civil Society Network, urged the caretaker officials to ensure citizens can participate in the elections freely and peacefully.
“I really urge them to prepare the elections for the civilians so that they can vote peacefully without any interference,” Kulang said.
Eastern Equatoria is putting temporary local government structures in place ahead of the planned 22 December 2026 elections.
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