Warrap women elect leader after amending constitution
July 21, 2013 (JUBA) – Women in South Sudan’s Warrap state on Saturday elected their new leader after a constitution was drafted and amended to guide the members.
Rose Acindhel was elected the new chairperson of the group, during the exercise which drew representatives from all the six counties of Warrap, including the Abyei area which is contested with neighbouring Sudan.
She defeated Asunta Angong, an ex-member of Sudan’s ruling party (NCP), who joined the South Sudan’s governing party – Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) – prior to the 2011 referendum that led to the secession of the South.
A delegate, who attended the polls, described the environment in which the elections were conducted as “friendly and participatory”.
“It was a successful poll. I was actually one of the key observers from the start until when the results were finally announced on Friday,” said Deng Magok told Sudan Trib une from Warrap state’s capital, Kuacjok.
Akol Wek, a member of the state youth leadership commended authorities for showing interest and overseeing the exercise without disruptions.
He described Acindhel as a “very good, cooperative and responsible woman and someone he knows would work to rally behind women in the leadership of the new nation”.
Sudan Tribune was unable to reach the newly-elected women’s leader nor her main challenger for the position.
(ST)