SPLM Sets November 5 Start for Countywide Internal Elections in Rumbek East

By Anak Dut Malual

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) is set to commence internal party congresses and primary elections across Rumbek East County on November 5, 2026, in an exercise aimed at strengthening party structures and reorganizing its leadership ahead of the upcoming general elections.

The organizing committee, led by Thondit Makur Makeny, arrived in the county on November 3 to oversee the electoral process, which will cover all payams in the county.

Speaking in an interview with The Dawn Newspaper, Makeny said the team had held consultations with existing SPLM structures at the boma, payam, and county levels to assess the party’s status and prepare for the elections.

“Immediately upon our arrival, we held a brief meeting with the existing SPLM organs to get updates on the status of the party in Rumbek East County,” Makeny said.

The delegation also met with the caretaker commissioner of Rumbek East County, Malual Anyuon, to brief him on its mission and the planned electoral activities.

According to Makeny, the commissioner welcomed the delegation and pledged to provide security throughout the exercise.

“He assured us that he would provide security for our teams as they carry out their missions,” Makeny said.

The elections are scheduled to begin in Paloc Payam on November 5, followed by Akot Payam on November 6.

The organising team will then proceed to Ataiba and Thon-Aduel payams on November 7, Mathiang Kok on November 8, and Maleng-Agok and Pachong on November 9. Cuei-Cok Payam is listed as the final destination, although its election date was not specified.

Makeny said that after completing the payam-level elections, the team would move to the county headquarters to conduct the next phase of the party’s internal electoral process.

“Once we finish at the payam levels, we will come to the county level to elect county SPLM officials and members who will represent Rumbek East in the National Assembly,” he explained.

The delegation will subsequently return to Rumbek to participate in the state-level congresses, where the SPLM state chairperson and state secretary are expected to be elected through the party’s established structures.

Makeny urged SPLM members, aspiring candidates, and other party stakeholders to return to their respective bomas and payams ahead of the elections to ensure their participation in the process.

“I encourage all people of Rumbek East, party members, and aspirants to head back to their bomas and payams immediately so that we can reach them effectively when we arrive in their areas,” he said.

He also called on candidates and their supporters to maintain peaceful relations, mutual respect, and political tolerance throughout the electoral process.

“I urge everyone to approach this political process as brothers and sisters. This is party politics, and we are guided by party principles. We must respect one another and conduct ourselves with dignity,” Makeny stated.

Meanwhile, Makeny announced that nomination forms for aspirants seeking the position of SPLM county chairperson would be available from November 4 to November 6 at the Thon-Aduel Payam headquarters.

Candidates seeking the position will be required to pay a nomination fee of two million South Sudanese pounds (SSP).

The internal elections form part of the SPLM’s broader efforts to reorganize its party structures, renew its leadership, and select representatives at various levels ahead of the anticipated general elections.