Who runs local government in South Sudan?
South Sudan has never held a national election since independence in 2011. Its 10 states and 3 administrative areas are run by governors appointed by the president, and county commissioners are also appointed, although the 2009 Local Government Act foresaw elected county councils. Chiefs, chosen by communities and recognised by the state, run customary courts and are often the most important local authority. General elections are scheduled for 22 December 2026.
Republic of South Sudan · Presidential republic with a decentralised (state) system under a transitional constitution · Eastern Africa
The levels of government below the nation
| Level | How it is chosen | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| States (10) and administrative areas (3: Abyei, Greater Pibor, Ruweng) | Governors and chief administrators appointed by the president, with posts shared among parties under the 2018 peace agreement | State government, security, services. |
| Counties (about 79) | County commissioners appointed (the 2009 Local Government Act provided for elections, which have not taken place) | Main local government unit; leads an executive of administrators and heads of department. |
| Payams | Payam administrators appointed | Sub-county level of local government. |
| Bomas (rural) / quarters (urban) | Boma administrators and chiefs | Basic administrative unit, with deconcentrated powers. |
| Chieftaincies (paramount chiefs, executive chiefs, sub-chiefs, headmen) | Chosen by communities according to custom (often by election or selection) and confirmed by government | Customary courts, tax collection support, conflict resolution. |
Three questions about local power in South Sudan
Are local leaders elected?
No one at national, state or county level has been chosen in an election since independence; governors and commissioners are appointed. Chiefs are often chosen by their communities, sometimes by local elections, then confirmed by the state.
Which laws set up local government?
States, local government and traditional authority are in the 2011 transitional constitution (Part Eleven) and the 2009 Local Government Act. Cattle-camp youth groups and peace committees are informal.
Who are local leaders accountable to?
Mostly upward to the president, who can dismiss governors and commissioners by decree. Chiefs answer to their communities and to county authorities. Courts and parliament provide limited checks.
Traditional and customary authority
The transitional constitution recognises 'the institution, status and role of Traditional Authority, according to customary law' (Article 167) and requires state laws to give traditional authority a role in local government and to set up councils of traditional leaders (Article 168). Courts apply customary law subject to the constitution. Chiefs' courts handle most family, marriage (including bride-wealth in cattle), compensation and minor criminal cases. Decades of war weakened chiefs: armed forces and governments appointed new chiefs, and in some areas the number of chiefs grew without following the 2009 law. Churches and church councils are important peace-builders.
Community and neighbourhood power
Cattle camps, led by camp leaders and organised armed youth (for example the titweng or gelweng groups in some Dinka areas), are powerful in pastoral areas and are involved in both protection and cattle raiding. Women's associations, church groups and peace committees work on reconciliation, often with UN support.
Points to know
- The number of states changed from 10 to 28 (2015), then 32 (2017), and back to 10 plus 3 administrative areas (2020).
- Customary 'A courts' (chiefs' courts) are the first level of justice for most South Sudanese.
- The 2009 Local Government Act was written with input from research on chiefs' courts, which stressed chiefs as institutions of both government and justice.
Local terms
- Payam
- A subdivision of a county.
- Boma
- The smallest rural administrative unit.
- Executive chief
- A chief who heads a chieftaincy and its customary court.
Sources
- South Sudan's Constitution of 2011 with Amendments through 2013, Constitute Project, checked 14 October 2026
- Local Governance in South Sudan: Overview (GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report 235), UK Government (GOV.UK research outputs), checked 14 October 2026
- Situation in South Sudan: Report of the Secretary-General (S/2026/640, 31 July 2026), United Nations (UNMISS), checked 14 October 2026
- Time Running Short ahead of December Elections in South Sudan, Security Council Speakers Warn (SC/16427), United Nations Meetings Coverage, checked 14 October 2026
See also: South Sudan's official statistics and leaders · the 10 levels of power.