Lawyers in South Sudan participated in elections on Wednesday to determine the leadership of the South Sudan Bar Association across several cities including Juba, Wau, Aweil, and Renk.
In recent years, the Bar Association has grappled with crises as multiple factions, each led by different individuals, claimed legitimacy. However, a Supreme Court ruling on March 20 addressed legal concerns by dissolving former Bar Associations and setting forth a roadmap for conducting credible, free, and fair elections for the South Sudan Bar Association.
Two prominent groups, the Reform and Prosperity, have put forth candidates for the association’s leadership. Reech Riing represents the Reform and Prosperity group as their candidate for the presidency, while Arop Malueth is the candidate for the top position from the Advocates Alliance.
Advocate Deng John Deng, the campaign manager for Reech Riing, expressed gratitude for the election process while speaking to Radio Tamazuj at the Freedom Hall in Juba, where advocates cast their votes. He noted that voting commenced at 9 a.m. in various cities including Juba, Wau, Aweil, and Renk.
Deng highlighted that the Bar Association has not undergone proper elections since 2009, making the current electoral process significant. He emphasized the importance of these elections, stating that they have garnered attention from citizens both within and outside the Republic of South Sudan.
“All eyes of the South Sudanese people are on Freedom Hall today, as it serves as a central venue for the Bar Association elections. This election marks a significant milestone, paving the way for our upcoming general elections scheduled for December this year. It’s the first time in the history of the South Sudan Bar Association that such an election is being held within the Republic of South Sudan,” Deng stated.
He emphasized the historical importance of the elections for South Sudan, expressing gratitude to the government for enabling the legal community to organize and implement the Advocates Act. “This election holds immense meaning for us as advocates in South Sudan. It signifies a momentous occasion in our country’s history,” he added.
Advocate Ronald Angelo Cornelio, after casting his vote, expressed optimism about the fairness of the elections. “I’m confident that this election will be a success. It’s a stark contrast to our previous attempt in 2014, which ended unfavourably. From the formation of the electoral committee to the campaigning process and the recent debate, everything has been conducted diligently. I believe this election will set a positive example as we approach the upcoming general elections,” he said.
Meanwhile, Advocate Benson Okongo commented on the smooth progress of the election despite some delays. “The process is proceeding well, although it’s a bit slow. We had hoped for a faster pace. By now, we expected a larger number of votes to be cast, but many advocates are still arriving. We remain hopeful for a positive outcome,” he remarked.
The results of the elections are expected to be announced this evening.