By: Ginaba Lino
The citizens of Western Equatoria State are urging the new governor to address the Tombura conflict and reunite the two communities of Azande and Balanda, citing that without addressing the current insecurity, there will be no development.
In an interview with Catholic Radio Network, the Chairperson of Youth Union of Western Equatoria State, Silvestor Rafael Ruati, says the people expect full restoration of peace and judicial reform in all ten Counties of Western Equatoria State.
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Ruati adds that the youth would want the governor to fight division among the people of Western Equatoria, especially the tribal conflict of Tombura County, and bring the unity they were enjoying from 2010 to 2013.
“The youth of Western Equatoria State need the new governor to bring the unity of the State back as it was those years of 2010 to 2013 so that people can live together as brothers and sisters, especially the division across the tribal line where we have tribal conflict in Tombura that has been existing for more than 5 years now.”
The chairperson of the youth union emphasizes that the new governor should center his focus on the problem of both communities of Azande and Balanda to make sure that the root cause of the conflict is found.
He calls on the governor to get close to the external influencers, citing that the youth are not initiating conflict among themselves, but they are being used by the eternal politicians and other conflicting actors.
Silvestor appeals for a peaceful environment for youth and creates job opportunities, establishing technical institutions, health care centers, and schools that are closed to be reopened.
Meanwhile, the women leader of Western Equatoria State, Fozia Abbus Barnaba, appeals to the new governor to engage with the people of Tombura and bring an end to the conflict.
“Without bringing a solution to the issue of Tombura, Western Equatoria will not continue in peace,” Fozia stated, adding that Women and Children have suffered in the conflict, and there’s a need for peace to prevail.
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“If the conflict continues in Tombura, many women, children, and the elders will lose their lives. That is why I’m appealing to the incoming governor to take this issue very seriously.”
The women leader of Western Equatoria State also calls on the governor to tackle GBV in the state, in which she describes the issue as “growing tension across the State.”
Abbus welcomed the appointment of the new governor, assuring the women’s support in Western Equatoria State under his leadership.
The Catholic Radio Network was unable to talk to civil society in Western Equatoria State, to talk about the appointment, given that the state was under the SPLM IO and now appointed the governor on the SPLM IG ticket.
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir appointed a member of his party as governor of Western Equatoria state, according to a decree read on state-owned media, breaching a peace deal that stipulates the role should be filled by the party of First Vice President Riek Machar.
The position has been vacant for nearly six months since the opposition SPLM-IO-appointed governor was ousted.
Days after Futuyo’s removal, supporters of the ruling SPLM in parts of Western Equatoria demanded that the state’s leadership revert to the SPLM rather than remain under Machar’s SPLM-IO.
According to the decree broadcast on state TV late Thursday, Kiir replaced Futuyo with James Al-Tayib Jazz Birapai, a loyal SPLM member and prominent Juba-based barrister.