By Kevin Akor
JUBA, South Sudan — South Sudan’s government apologized Monday after mistakenly appointing a deceased man to a presidential panel tasked with preparing for the country’s long-delayed elections.
President Salva Kiir last week released a list of appointments intended to support preparations for elections now scheduled for December 2026. One of the individuals named, Steward Sorobo, was reported by local media to have died about five years ago.
In a statement, Kiir’s press secretary, David Amour Majur, said the presidency had “learned with regret” that one of the appointed signatories had passed away. He called the error an “unfortunate administrative oversight” and acknowledged that proper verification had not been carried out.
The day after the controversy, Majur and Valentino Dhel Malueth were dismissed from their positions with immediate effect, according to a statement from the Office of the President. Marik Nanga Marik has been appointed Chief Administrator in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, while a new press secretary has yet to be named. Sorobo’s name has since been removed from the appointment list.
The mistake caused distress for Sorobo’s family. A family representative, Boboya James Edimond, called for “cultural and moral reparation,” describing the error as a serious cultural and spiritual violation.
The incident also drew widespread ridicule on social media, with users accusing the government of careless “copy and paste” appointments. One commenter jokingly suggested the deceased should remain on the panel as a coordinator “between the living and dead” to help bring peace to the country.
South Sudan, Africa’s youngest nation, has faced repeated delays in holding elections amid ongoing tensions between the government and various rebel groups. The latest round of peace talks, launched in Nairobi in May 2024 with Kenya mediating, follows failed negotiations in 2022.
