Torit Executive Order No. 01/2026: Restricts Public Gatherings for Campaigns

• An SPLM delegation assured aspirants in Eastern Equatoria of free campaigning for party primaries.
• Torit municipal authorities issued Executive Order No. 01/2026, requiring prior authorization for all public gatherings.
• This local order directly contradicts the SPLM delegation's assurances for political activities and campaigning.
• The SPLM primaries, beginning November 5, will elect party structures and delegates, culminating in the selection of a state chairperson.
• Caretaker officials, including the governor, are explicitly barred from participating in the internal electoral process.

The conflicting directives from the SPLM delegation and Torit municipal authorities create significant legal uncertainty for political aspirants and parties regarding the legality of public gatherings and campaigning.

A high-level delegation from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), tasked with overseeing party primaries in South Sudan's Eastern Equatoria State, has assured political aspirants of their right to campaign freely. Ambassador Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, who leads this delegation, explicitly stated that no contestant should face obstacles in meeting supporters, engaging party members, or organizing political activities in anticipation of the party's internal elections.

These assurances, however, directly clash with a recent directive from Torit municipal authorities. Eddy William Ponsiano Boyle, the caretaker commissioner and mayor of Torit, issued Executive Order No. 01/2026, which mandates prior authorization from the Torit County and Municipal Council for all public gatherings and meetings. This order, dated November 3, took immediate effect, creating a complex and uncertain environment for political hopefuls.

The divergence between the SPLM delegation's pronouncements and the local executive order has generated significant confusion regarding the legality of public campaigning. Ambassador Gatkuoth, speaking from the SPLM state secretariat in Torit, underscored the democratic nature of the process, asserting that all individuals are permitted to campaign freely and engage with anyone, anywhere. He also indicated that Caretaker Governor Louis Lobong Lojore had pledged security agencies would protect all contestants, a commitment reinforced by instructions from the national government.

Conversely, Governor Lobong had previously cautioned aspirants against holding public campaign meetings, emphasizing that the internal process was intended for lobbying within the party, not for broader public campaigning. He voiced concerns about some aspirants already engaging with communities, including individuals who were not registered SPLM members, and questioned the presence of heavily armed bodyguards accompanying certain contestants. The Torit Executive Order No. 01/2026 was disseminated to key officials, including the caretaker governor, state police commissioner, director of the National Security Service, and legal administration, highlighting its official enforcement.

Ambassador Gatkuoth further offered direct intervention for any aspirant encountering interference from security personnel while attempting to meet supporters, promising to ensure their security. This direct line of support aims to mitigate the impact of potential enforcement actions stemming from the Torit public gathering restrictions, yet the underlying conflict between the directives remains.

The SPLM primaries and congresses in Eastern Equatoria are scheduled to commence on Thursday, November 5. The internal electoral process will unfold in stages, beginning at the boma level, then progressing to the payam, county, and state levels. This structured approach aims to elect party structures and delegates at each administrative tier.

The culmination of this process will be a state congress, comprising 255 delegates. This congress holds the crucial responsibility of electing the SPLM state chairperson, an individual who could subsequently become the party's candidate for the Eastern Equatoria governorship in the December elections. Notably, directives from the SPLM leadership explicitly prohibit caretaker officials, including the governor, ministers, advisors, and commissioners, from participating in this internal electoral exercise. The entire process is estimated to conclude within two to three days, with delegates electing their representatives through an open queuing system, and residents urged to maintain peace throughout.

The conflicting directives from the SPLM delegation and Torit municipal authorities create significant legal uncertainty for political aspirants and parties regarding the legality of public gatherings and campaigning. This ambiguity poses a substantial challenge for candidates seeking to comply with both national party assurances and local administrative orders, potentially leading to disputes or enforcement actions.

The situation also raises questions about the fairness and transparency of the Eastern Equatoria political primaries, particularly concerning South Sudan election law compliance. While Ambassador Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth directives aim to ensure a democratic and open process for SPLM campaigning in South Sudan, the Torit public gathering restrictions, championed by Louis Lobong Lojore public campaigning concerns, introduce a layer of complexity that could impact the integrity of the internal elections and, by extension, the broader December general elections.

The conflicting directives from the SPLM delegation and Torit municipal authorities create significant legal uncertainty for political aspirants and parties regarding the legality of public gatherings and campaigning. Lawyers advising clients involved in the upcoming SPLM primaries in Eastern Equatoria must carefully assess the risks of non-compliance with local orders versus national party assurances, potentially preparing for legal challenges or disputes arising from enforcement actions.

Source: Original reporting via local news sources.