Veteran politician Paul Mayom Akech has lost the ruling SPLM primary election for Geographical Constituency No. 5 in Rumbek East County, Lakes State, which elects a representative to the National Legislative Assembly. Malek Reuben Riak emerged as the party’s candidate.
Riak won the primary with 399 votes, defeating Akech, who secured 265 votes. The election was held on Thursday in Aduel, the administrative headquarters of Rumbek East County, with delegates voting by lining up behind their preferred candidates.
Four other candidates contested the seat. Thon Manyuon received 69 votes, Laat Maket Riak 68, Andrew Marial Mayen 21 and Marial Ater Malok six. Four delegates were absent.
David Yau Yau, chairperson of the high-level committee overseeing the SPLM primaries in Lakes State, described the exercise as free and transparent.
He thanked delegates for their patience, saying the voting had continued from the morning until the results were determined.
“This is not the last process. We still have more work to do, and there are still national responsibilities to be concluded ahead of the general elections on December 22, 2026,” Yau Yau said.
Akech conceded defeat and congratulated Riak, describing the primary as transparent and open.
He said he would remain active in the party and continue serving in his capacity as a member of the SPLM Political Bureau.
“This does not bring us down, because we have higher positions in the party,” Akech said.
Riak congratulated the party on the peaceful conclusion of the primary, describing his selection as its candidate for the forthcoming elections as a major responsibility.
He pledged to work with party members to represent the interests of Rumbek East residents and address their concerns.
South Sudan is scheduled to hold general elections on December 22, 2026, in what would be its first national elections since gaining independence in 2011. The SPLM primaries are part of the ruling party’s process of selecting candidates for the polls.
Political background
Akech is a veteran SPLM politician who has held several ministerial positions in governments before and after South Sudan’s independence in 2011.
He first served as minister of internal affairs in the semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan. In May 2009, President Salva Kiir appointed him minister of information and broadcasting in a cabinet reshuffle.
In June 2010, Akech was appointed minister of irrigation and water resources. He retained the portfolio after independence and was included in the country’s first post-independence cabinet, announced in August 2011.
He returned to the cabinet in 2018 as minister of East African Community affairs. In March 2020, he was appointed minister of interior in the transitional government formed under a 2018 peace agreement. He held the position until November 2021, when Kiir removed him from the cabinet.
Who is Malek Reuben Riak?
Riak previously held senior military positions, including deputy chief of staff for logistics, deputy chief of defence staff and inspector general of the army.
In September 2017, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Riak, accusing him of contributing to the continuation of South Sudan’s conflict and playing a central role in military procurement.
In July 2018, the United Nations Security Council also sanctioned him over actions it said threatened peace, security and stability in South Sudan. The council cited findings by a UN Panel of Experts linking him to senior government security officials involved in planning and overseeing a 2015 military offensive against opposition forces in Unity State.
Despite the sanctions, Kiir appointed Riak deputy minister of defence and veterans affairs in September 2018.
In April 2021, Kiir removed him from the position and appointed him a Grade One ambassador to Eritrea.
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