The Governor of the Warrap State in South Sudan, Ambasador Bol Wek Agoth has banned the cultural sport of individual fattening competition, after two people reportedly died in the process.
Ambassador Bol Wek Agoth, declared the state-wide ban on the long-existed fattening competitions following the deaths of two young men during the sport held at Kuac Ayok community in August 2025.
Reports from South Sudan reveal that the traditional and cultural practice involves young men consuming excessive amounts of milk while also avoiding solid food in a bid to rapidly gain weight.
As it happens, the participant who gains more weight becomes obese than others becomes the winner.
How long it takes before a person could get overweight is still not known.
Governor Bol Wek Agoth said the decision was taken to safeguard lives as the government reviews the health and safety risks associated with the traditional youth sport.
Civil society leaders have also been urging swift interventions to prevent further tragedies linked to the practice.
There have been mixed reactions from members of the public, following the ban.
“The exercise has been there for very long time. It can’t just be banned like that. This is a cultural system for identity and dignity,” pointed out one Peter Ayom in an online comment.
But Moro Morris begs to differ; he seems to support the ban.
“Great,” Morris says. “This primitive competition leading to deaths should actually be banned completely,” he adds, extending condolences to families of those who have lost their lives.
The Warrap State where the fattening sport has been outlawed is located in the northern parts of South Sudan.
Warrap lies within the Greater Bahr el-Ghazal region.
The state borders Abyei, a contested area between Sudan and South Sudan.
The majority of residents of Warrap are Dinka, but Luo, Bongo and other smaller ethnic groups also live there.
The political elite of Warrap overwhelmingly support President Salva Kiir and his government, and there have been few, if any, defections from the South Sudan’s People Liberation Army (SPLA) within this Northern precinct.