W. Bahr el Ghazal women fault parties for high nomination fees

Women leaders in Western Bahr el Ghazal State have raised concerns over political parties charging exorbitant nomination fees to contest in elections, saying they will frustrate women from participating in the upcoming elections.

They said many of them cannot afford the fees and that it will affect women’s political representation.

Julet Luka Mudiria, a peace mediator, said the money required by parties from candidates is blocking women from contesting. She urged the political parties to reduce the amount.

“There are many women who are proficient and well equipped with knowledge, willing to lead the country, but their limited resources will not enable them to participate in the coming polls,” she stated. “Women normally save their money for their children. The huge fees demanded by parties will lead to limited participation of women in the election.”

For her part, Carmela Augustino, Acting State Women Union chairperson, revealed that women have not received any funds to help them mobilize fellow women to understand their rights in the upcoming election.

“We have been talking about election preparedness with our mouths; there are no funds to help us move around to sensitize women,” she said. “If any well-wishers are willing to fund women to push for the 35 percent affirmative action and beyond, we will be happy.”

Meanwhile, Regina Edward Dimo, Director General at the State Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, said they are trying to educate women about the upcoming election, but they have no funding to run the activities.

“There are no donors supporting women with civic education, and the high fees for candidates are affecting women’s participation in the state,” she said.

According to the women leaders, candidates are required to pay Two Million South Sudanese Pounds, although the amount also depends on the different parties and their demands from candidates. They said these expensive fees affect the participation of women candidates for governorship, national parliament, state parliament, and other positions.