Candidates for traditional chief to pay up to $800 in Upper Nile – General Gathoth Gatkuoth

JUBA – Local chiefs who wish to serve as traditional chiefs in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state will have to pay up to $800 dollars to contest for a position, according to ex-opposition commander turned Upper Nile state local government minister General Gathoth Gatkuoth.

In an ordered on Monday seen by Sudans Post, General Gatkuoth said terms of active traditional chiefs all over Upper Nile state will end in three months ushering in local elections in which new chiefs will be elected.

He said those who would wish to contest for any of the traditional positions will have to pay up to $800 [360,000 in local currency, SSP] depending on the position a person is contesting.

“I as a Minister of local government and law enforcement do here by issuing orders for the dissolution of all paramount chiefs, head chiefs and sub chiefs after 100 days in your office. The committee for election from the ministry of local government and law enforcement will come to your end after 100 days from the signature of these orders,” the minister said in the order.

“The fees for election per traditional level shall be: paramount chief – 800 USD, Head chief = 500 USD and Sub chief = 400 USD. This for your directive,” General Gathoth added.

Gatkuoth further said the [defunct] 32 states of the government and SPLM-IO’s liberated areas have created more counties,” which has resulted into many payams and thus many traditional chiefs.