Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The governor of Unity State, Dr Joseph Manytuil, has committed to promoting peace conversations among the youth in Leer, Koch, and Mayiandit counties, which were recently rocked by violence.
This was after holding a meeting on the general security situation in Leer County, and the recent conflict pitting the youth of Koch and Mayiandit counties against SPLA-IO forces that led to the loss of lives and destruction of property.
The governor called on the communities and the youth to desist from violence and embrace peace and harmony.
“Dr Joseph Manytuil Wejang urged Dok Community Association leadership in Bentiu IDPs camp to embrace peace and harmony among the Dok Community. Governor Manytuil reiterated the commitments of his Government to initiate peace dialogue between conflicting youth of Leer, Koch and Mayiandit Counties to avoid further escalation,” the statement from the office of the governor read.
He urged authorities in Leer, Koch and Mayiandit counties to prioritise the protection of the lives of their citizens and property from aggressors.
The Chairperson of Dok Community Association in Bentiu IDP camp, Peter Nyuot Jany, hailed the state government’s efforts to impart messages of peace to Leer, Koch and Mayiandit youth. Jany pledged to cooperate with Manytuil’s leadership in ending the conflict in the Southern part of Unity State.
“(He) appreciated Governor Manytuil for spearheading the initiative of peace and dialogue between conflicting youth. Mr. Jany also assured the commitments of his leadership to support the state government’s effort to end the conflict in Southern Unity,” the statement concluded.
Call for justice
On April 28, 2022, the UN Security Council Panel of Experts on South Sudan released a report blaming the commissioners of Koch and Mayiandit counties and the commander of SPLM/A-IO forces to be responsible for instability in Leer, Koch and Mayiandit counties.
The report indicated that the instability was spearheaded by the commissioners who mobilised the youth to fight SPLM/A-IO for their own interests, thereby causing massive loss of lives, property and displacement of people.
The panel urged the national government to bring the masterminds of conflicts in Unity State to book. Dr Manytuil later responded by heaping blame on the UNSC Panel of Experts for releasing reports before getting on the ground to establish facts.
Unity State’s Leer, Koch and Mayiandit had been hot spots for violence, especially between unintegrated Kit Gwang forces and the SPLM/A-IO forces in the area.
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