Recent data on South Sudan shows that 52% of girls are married before their 18th birthday, with some as young as 12 years old. Despite the 2008 Child Act, which prohibits early and forced marriage, child marriage persists in South Sudan due to poverty, cultural practices, and a lack of enforcement of the law. In the case of Athiak Dau Riak, a 14-year-old from South Sudan, it’s likely that these circumstances contributed to the viral competition for her hand in marriage across Africa.

“There is nothing wrong with this marriage.”

After photos and videos of the events were posted online, people across Africa took to social media to weigh in on the marriage competition between Marial Garang Jil and Chol Marol Deng. Some voiced their opinions on who the bride should choose, while others defended the process against critics. Marriage competitions are tradition in South Sudan, but Athiak Dau Riak, the bride-to-be, captured the attention of the public with her beauty and height.

Athiak’s age came into question when her maternal uncle posted on Facebook his disapproval of the marriage competition. He called it “a classic example of pedophilia” because he believed her to be a minor. The post captured the attention of South Sudanese feminist activist Aluel Atem, who sees the arrangement as akin to forced marriage. She said to The Guardian:

“She had to pick one of them. I don’t think there was an option for her not to choose either of these two men.”

Athiak’s father, Dau Riak Magany, said nothing is wrong with the marriage because she is 19 and consented. However, Atem explained that in Sherikat, young girls attach worth and status to how much a man pays for his bride. TikTok users dubbed Athiak ‘the most expensive bride in South Sudan,’ which likely gave her a sense of pride.

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