The two suitors and Athiak Dau Riak [center] - Courtesy

The maternal uncle of Athiak Dau Riak, the girl under marriage negotiations to matrimony in a stiff competition among suitors in Jonglei State, has denounced what he terms as forced marriage against his niece.

The ongoing saga of Athiak’s marriage, entangled between two suitors and a schoolgirl’s plight, remains a central topic of debate on social media.

Athiak’s uncle, Daniel Chol Yach, known as Cee Wai on social media, resides in Canada.

In a recent Facebook post, Chol raised his voice against the ongoing traditional marriage competition.

According to Chol, Athiak is being coerced into marriage by her parents, sparking another marriage competition in South Sudan.

However, this time, it’s between Bor and Twic Counties in Jonglei State.

In 2018, a 17-year-old girl from Lakes State was married off for over 500 cows and three V8s in a hot contest involving six suitors.

Women lawyers in South Sudan and activists have termed the practice dehumanizing and amounts to the commoditization of women.

In this instance, the competition is between two men from the perceived civilized Western world.

Marial Garang from the Koc clan in Makuac Payam of Bor County lives in Australia.

In contrast, Chol Marol Deng from the Awulian clan in Nyuak Payam of Twic East County lives in Canada.

According to Wai, both men could be in their 40s and 50s.

Athiak’s uncle expresses concern, describing her impending marriage as a classic example of ‘pedophilia,’ emphasizing her status as a minor despite her tall and slender build.

He shares her distress, stating that she contacted him for help.

“Both of these men are significantly older probably in their 40s and 50s,” Chol remarked on his Facebook page.

“Dan has a beautiful family that am sure he’s proud of as can be seen on the cover of his Facebook profile. One of his daughters is of the same age as Athiak if not a few years shy.”

“Athiak Kuir Yach is my niece. My elder sister’s daughter. She is a minor despite her deceiving tall and slender build.

“It broke my heart when she reached out to me to seek my help. This is a classic example of pedophilia,” he added,” he concluded.

Child marriage is a formal marriage or informal union entered into by an individual before reaching a certain age, specified by several global organizations such as UNICEF as minors under the age of 18.

According to UNICEF, more than 60 % of South Sudanese girls are married before they turn 18.

The UN’s Children Agency also says teenage girls are said to be three times more likely to die in child labour in the country than to complete primary education.

A 2016 study by the Germany-based Development and Cooperation has found that high dowry prices in South Sudan have resulted in detrimental consequences such as child marriage, forced marriage and cattle rustling.

The report noted that excessive bride price has become a burden on many families, with some men taking loans and others going on cattle rustling to marry the woman of their choice.

It also stated that poverty has made some parents desperate to collect the bride price and no longer be in charge of feeding their daughters.

The practice has also been viewed as one of the causes of gender-based violence as men look at women as their property.