Security Improving In Eastern Equatoria: Government

The security situation in Eastern Equatoria State has improved in the last one month, says the Eastern Equatoria State Deputy Governor Nartisio Loluke Manir.

Speaking when he received a Government of Southern Sudan delegation led by the GoSS Vice President Dr Riek Machar Teny last week, Manir attributed the improvement to efforts by the state government.

He affirmed that immediately after its formation after the April polls, the new state administration embarked on initiating constructive dialogue with warring pastoralist communities notably the Larim, Toposa and Didinga as well as the Logir and Lopit.

“The government intensified efforts to attain peace and reconciliation through conferences held over the last three months and cattle rustling cases have drastically gone down”, he said, citing the Toposa versus the Larim, the Logir versus the Didinga, and the Didinga versus Toposa among others", said the State Local Government and Law Enforcement Minister.

Manir revealed that the state government has established peace and reconciliation committees from the state to the Payam levels, adding that it also provides financial support to the committees.

“Recently, a successful peace and reconciliation conference was held at Napak of Budi county bringing the Toposa and Larim ethnic communities together”, he said.

However, residents of Budi County have complained of insecurity, especially along the Loriyok – Chukudum road, where they say, several lives have been lost due to frequent attacks.

The residents feel neglected by the government, saying the “county has not yet smelt even a peace dividend of the 2005 peace deal”.