President Kiir speaking during press conference with his Senegalese counterpart Mack Sall in Juba on July 18, 2022. (Photo via presidency)
A rare mistake by South Sudan’s presidency has stirred anger, sorrow, and questions about respect for the dead, after a man who passed away years ago was officially named to a national election body.
The error came to light when a presidential order listed Steward Sorobia Budia, a former opposition figure, as a member of a committee involved in election preparations. Budia, however, died about five years ago. The government later admitted the mistake and issued an apology.
While officials described the issue as a paperwork failure, Budia’s family says the incident goes far beyond administration. For them, it touched deep cultural beliefs about death and memory.
“In our culture, it is not acceptable to summon or awaken the spirit of a deceased person without the family’s knowledge, consent, or participation,” the family said in a statement, while also calling for compensation.
The presidency explained that the list of committee members was drawn from names submitted by different political groups and stakeholders. According to the president’s press secretary, Ambassador David Amour Majur, the process was meant to be broad and inclusive. He said one group failed to properly confirm the name it put forward, which led to the mistake being included in the final decree signed on January 30.
Officials said the government later discovered the problem, expressed regret, and moved to fix it. The presidency also said it is waiting for a new name to replace Budia and promised tighter checks in the future to prevent similar errors.