Jenifer James
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The residents of the Upper Nile are still living in a state of fear with the northern region yet to shed off a cyclic bout of inter-communal violence perpetrated by local militia groups.
The City Review learnt that the level of insecurity is so worrying that it at times it hampers state activities, threatening to interfere with socio-political life in the state.
For instance, on Monday, a government delegation that accompanied the newly appointed governor, James Odhok, for his welcoming ceremony in Malakal town, was whisked back to Juba, after rumours of an impending attack surfaced late in the evening.
Upon his arrival at Malakal Airstrip, Odhok was welcomed by the state ministers, local chiefs, and civilians from Malakal POC. from an outsider’s point of view, the security situation in the once buzzing town was seemed normal, but to locals, an attack is just a matter of when, and not if.
People of Malakal live and breathe uncertainty birthed by rampant attacks. On a normal Monday morning like this past week, we spotted pockets of people by the roadside, others taking tea outside the few shops that were operational. But amidst the relative calm, on the surface of it, deep in their heart lurked the danger of attacks.
With the deafening alarms over the potential attack, Governor Odhok had no option but to allow the delegates to return to Juba immediately after the event.
In his speech during the welcoming ceremony, Odhok vowed to restore security and peace in the state.
“I am ready to stabilise the security situation in the state in order for the people to return home from the POC camp and refugee settlement,” he said.
He added that for the government to end insecurity, there is a need for dialogue with the conflicting parties and the holdout groups in the state.
He said the involvement of the state’s youth in the inter-communal conflict was one of the major contributing factors to the slow implementation of the peace agreement.
“Why do we fight each other in the state yet we are all one? We need to prioritize the state’s development, peace, and stability,” he said.
The governor reiterated that his government would provide security, stability, and the rule of law to the people in the state.
“The country needs peace as well as the state; I am sure I will bring lasting peace to the people of Upper Nile; all I need is cooperation,” Odhok said.
Since the signing of the peace agreement in 2018, Upper Nile State has experienced calm.
Last year, fierce fighting broke out between the white army—a group of armed youth loyal to Gen Simon Gatwech—and the Agwelek forces of Gen Johnson Olony in Upper Nile State, leading to the massive killing of people and the displacement of the local communities.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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