Aweil West women elect new leader to champion rights, community welfare

AWEIL – Women in Aweil West County of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State on Friday elected a new chairperson in a move aimed at strengthening advocacy for women’s rights and addressing social challenges affecting families and children in the area.

Ms Mary Nyibol Mawien was elected as the new chairlady during a local women’s election organised by the Northern Bahr El Ghazal State Women’s Union Association. The event was attended by local authorities and senior officials from the state who travelled to the county to witness the process.

Speaking to local media after the vote, Mawien pledged to work with all women in the county, including those who contested against her, to address common challenges facing the community.

“I will work together with those who contested against me and those who voted for me. There is no difference in the problems we face. We share the same challenges in our community, such as the lack of quality education for our children,” Mawien said in her acceptance speech.

She highlighted the need to improve the welfare of children in the county, warning that many are exposed to exploitation and child labour.

“The welfare of children is very poor. Many of them are subjected to mistreatment and child labour, which goes against humanitarian principles. We must stand up and protect their rights,” she added.

Mawien also stressed that women remain among the most vulnerable groups in the community, noting that many are denied access to education and other opportunities due to social barriers.

She described the election as a healthy democratic contest, urging women to remain united despite political competition.

“Contesting in an election is like playing a game—you either win or lose. Those who supported me have done a great thing, and those who opposed me did so as part of the contest. What matters now is that we work together,” she said.

Closing the event, the chairperson of the Northern Bahr El Ghazal State Women’s Union Association, Ms Agau Kon Kuol, commended the voters for conducting what she described as a peaceful and orderly election.

She said the process demonstrated growing civic awareness among women and could serve as a positive example ahead of future national elections.

“The election was conducted successfully and peacefully. This is the kind of democratic practice we need in a society emerging from years of conflict,” Kuol said.

The women’s local elections are part of a broader initiative by the state women’s association to promote grassroots leadership and women’s participation in decision-making. The association previously organised a similar election in Aweil North County and plans to extend the process to Aweil East, Aweil Centre, and Aweil South counties.