Western Equatoria state government pushes for peace in Tambura County.

Speaking to Juba Echo via phone from Yambio town on Thursday, Western Equatoria State Information and Communication Minister, Hon. William Baiki said the three day peace rally which began on Monday this week was constructively led by Governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba and the National Minister of Public Service Bangasi Bakasoro.

He dismissed earlier media reports that it was a peace conference. According to William, it was a peace really.

“It wasn’t a peace conference. In fact, it was a peace rally. Which started on Monday in Tambura County. The team was led by the honourable Governor, we went with the national minister for public service, three state advisors, six state ministers including some members of independent commissions and also the Executive chief of Nandi Payam which is under Ezo county. The peace rally was very constructive and we finished well,” William Baiki said via phone.

William Baiki said the peace conference resolved that the communities in Tambura County should peacefully coexist to enhance security in the area.

“The resolution we had in the discussion with the security organs in Tambura county as well as the SSPDF, the head of the organized forces, the commander of the national security and also some of the prison officers was to maintain and protect the lives of the citizens. We also convene a meeting with the elders from both communites of Balanda and Zande so that they can promote peaceful coexistence among themselves,” William Baiki stated the resolutions

Tambura is the only county in Western Equatoria State which is not peaceful due to tensions between the Balanda and Zande communities according to authorities there.

Meanwhile, in Eastern Equatoria, the State Parliamentary Caucus at the Transitional National Legislature has condemned the recent incidents in Lowereng and Camp-15 residential areas last month.

In late March violence led to loss of lives in Lowereng area and two days later, the Governor’s convoy was ambushed at Camp-15.

In a letter issued on Thursday, Hon. Julius Ajeo Moilinga, Chairman, Eastern Equatoria State Parliamentary Caucus at the TNLA said the incidents are a setback to the state and its people adding that the attacks do not represent the spirit of peace and law abiding citizens.

Condemnation Letter issued by the EESPC | 8^th April, 2021

Julius urges the relevant government authorities to ensure justice and bring all culprits responsible for the despicable act to book.

“Having arms in the hands of civilians all over the country is not a factor for stability at all, now this infiltration of arms is everywhere. But then we will not keep silent and we condemn it. The arms must be removed from the civilians and handed to the organized forces under the custody of the government,” Julius Moilinga said.

The elders of Buya Community at Camp-15 in Eastern Equatoria State have refused to show up for meeting convened by Eastern Equatoria State Governor, Louis Lobong Lojore after returning from Kapoeta following an ambush that nearly took his life. The attack was suspected to have been carried out by armed Buya Community youth.

According the governor’s press secretary, Aliandro Lotok, the meeting was just to tell them that there is no cause of alarm. There is nothing to fear. And that people should not be afraid but instead that they should report to the government the people who started the crisis.

However, the Buya chiefs did not honour the governor’s invitation for fear of arrest and possible prosecution.

“The Governor wanted to meet the chiefs from the Buya Community to come for a meeting today [last Sunday] but the people who were sent to call the chiefs found out there’s misinformation. People were scared and the misinformation made the chiefs not to come,” Aliandro said.

The meeting was to bring all the chiefs from all the villages along the Buya area.

Camp – 15 is now calm, the shops have reopened, people have resumed their normal lives and displaced populations have started coming back according to Eastern Equatoria State Authorites