A high-level SPLM delegation overseeing party primaries in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State has assured aspirants they can campaign freely, despite an executive order by Torit municipal authorities requiring prior authorisation for public gatherings and meetings.
Ambassador Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, who chairs the delegation, said no contestant should be prevented from meeting supporters, lobbying party members or organising political activities ahead of the party’s internal elections.
Speaking at the SPLM state secretariat in Torit on Wednesday, Gatkuoth urged caretaker Governor Louis Lobong Lojore and county commissioners to guarantee the security of all aspirants, saying the party leadership expects a peaceful and transparent process.
“Everybody is allowed to campaign freely and talk to anybody, wherever they want to go. We are democratic,” Gatkuoth said.
He said Lobong had assured the delegation that security agencies would protect all contestants.
“The caretaker governor, General Louis Lobong, will provide security for everybody. The national government has also instructed all security organs to provide security for all the aspirants,” he said.
Gatkuoth urged aspirants facing interference from security personnel while meeting supporters to report directly to the delegation, promising to intervene.
“If there is someone who wants to contest and is trying to lobby or gather his own community, but is being interfered with by security, just call me. I will make sure that security is provided for you,” he said.
He added that aspirants could organise rallies and other political activities, saying the delegation would intervene to ensure their security.
Conflicting directives
The assurances came a day after Torit caretaker commissioner and mayor Eddy William Ponsiano Boyle issued Executive Order No. 01/2026, prohibiting parties, gatherings and meetings without authorisation from the Torit County and Municipal Council authorities.
The order, dated November 3, took immediate effect and was copied to the caretaker governor, state police commissioner, director of the National Security Service and legal administration.
It followed remarks by Lobong on Tuesday cautioning aspirants against holding public campaign meetings, saying the process was intended for internal party lobbying rather than public campaigning.
“This is internal democracy within the SPLM party. It is not campaigning; it is time for lobbying. You lobby members of the SPLM,” Lobong said.
He expressed concern that some aspirants were already meeting communities, including people who were not necessarily SPLM members. He also questioned the presence of heavily armed bodyguards accompanying some contestants.
The differing positions have raised questions about how aspirants can meet supporters and lobby party members while complying with the restrictions on public gatherings.
Primaries begin Thursday
Gatkuoth said the SPLM primaries and congresses in Eastern Equatoria would begin on Thursday, November 5, starting at the boma level before moving to payam, county and state levels.
The process will involve electing party structures and delegates at each administrative level, culminating in a state congress comprising 255 delegates.
The congress is expected to elect the SPLM state chairperson, who could become the party’s candidate for the Eastern Equatoria governorship in the December elections.
Gatkuoth said caretaker officials, including the governor, ministers, advisers and commissioners, would not be allowed to participate in the internal electoral process, citing directives from the SPLM leadership.
He estimated that the exercise would take two to three days, saying delegates would elect their representatives through an open queuing system.
He urged residents to remain peaceful throughout the process.
“Remain calm. Remain peaceful. Do democracy peacefully,” he said.
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