The ruling SPLM on Thursday suspended ongoing party congresses and primary elections in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), citing unspecified technical challenges.
The primaries, aimed at selecting candidates for the December elections and restructuring the party, have been underway in the area for more than a week as part of a nationwide process conducted by President Salva Kiir’s party.
The SPLM High-Level Committee overseeing the process in the GPAA is led by Nadia Arop Dudi, a member of the party’s Political Bureau.
In a directive dated November 5 and seen by Radio Tamazuj, Nadia announced the suspension of the GPAA State Congress, which had been scheduled for Friday, November 6, until further notice, citing technical challenges without providing details.
“All delegates are hereby informed to remain on standby in their places and the new date will be communicated officially,” the statement read.
Nadia urged party members to maintain discipline as arrangements are made to resume the process.
Jacob Werchum Jouk, the GPAA information minister, told Radio Tamazuj that the administration had provided a conducive environment for the party activities, describing the suspension as a technical issue falling under the committee’s responsibility.
“What was left was the nomination of the party chairperson at the GPAA level here in Pibor town. The majority of the seven counties had their processes completed, though there were accessibility challenges and reports of irregularities in some areas,” he said.
“As for the GPAA government, we had been facilitating their activities. So their programme is affected by a technical challenge related to the election process.”
Jouk said the administration is ready to support the SPLM in resuming its activities, adding that the remaining task was the election of the area’s party chairperson.
“The date of the resumption has yet to be communicated. What is left is the election for the state party chairperson. The process started well and this technical challenge is only at the final stage. There is no insecurity or financial issue,” he said.
The primaries are part of the ruling SPLM’s internal candidate-selection process ahead of its national convention and general elections scheduled for December 2026.
The Greater Pibor Administrative Area was established in 2014 through a presidential decree signed by Kiir, following a May 9, 2014, peace agreement between the government and David Yau Yau’s Cobra Faction.
The area, comprising Pibor and Pochalla counties, formerly part of Jonglei State, was granted special administrative status under a chief administrator appointed by and accountable to the president.
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