Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) has resolved to deploy organised forces to crime hotspots across the region in a coordinated push to curb widespread cattle raiding, child abductions, and violence against women.
The decision was endorsed during the First Commissioners’ Forum, a landmark gathering bringing together seven county commissioners, traditional authorities, security officials, women representatives, and senior administrators.
The forum—held for the first time in GPAA from November 11th to 13th under the theme Strengthening Local Administration and Resolving GPAA Challenges through Dialogue and Partnership—served as a platform for dialogue and collective planning aimed at addressing the region’s long-standing security and governance challenges.
In a communiqué issued at the close of the meeting, GPAA leadership said the deployment of forces is intended to “restore order and guarantee the safety of civilians who have endured repeated waves of cross-border raids and abductions.”
The security personnel will be stationed strategically along high-risk corridors, border zones, and isolated areas frequently targeted by criminal networks.
Speaking to Sudans Post on Friday, GPAA Minister of Information Jacob Werchum Juok confirmed that operational planning is underway, though flooding has slowed immediate access to certain areas.
“The resolution of the First Commissioners’ Forum, which concluded on Thursday, called on the government to deploy forces to reduce crimes related to abduction and cattle raiding,” he said.
Werchum explained that while implementation has begun, the rainy season has made several roads impassable, forcing the government to wait until the dry season to fully roll out the deployment.
“As we speak, the roads leading to those areas are flooded, and during the dry season, this resolution will be fully implemented when roads are accessible,” he noted.
The minister stressed that a stronger security presence will significantly help reduce child abductions and cattle raids. He said the forum agreed on a unified approach, supported by clear guidelines and new enforcement measures aimed at tackling chronic insecurity.
“This will help a lot in terms of child abduction because there will be unified voices on this issue, backed by clear guidelines. It will reduce child abduction and cattle raiding, and we are going to implement more laws to curb these practices,” he said.
GPAA leaders also committed to working closely with neighbouring Jonglei and Eastern Equatoria states to address intercommunal attacks driven by livestock disputes, resource pressures, and historical grievances.
The forum emphasised that community participation is essential, urging chiefs, elders, women, youth leaders, and local administrators to support intelligence gathering, early warning systems, and grassroots peace initiatives.
The First Commissioners’ Forum is expected to become an annual platform for reviewing governance performance and setting security priorities for GPAA, with participants expressing hope that the decisions made will mark a turning point in stabilising the region.
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