By Matik Kueth
Central Equatoria State Governor, Emmanuel Adil Anthony, has warned that insecurity remains a major obstacle to development across the state, and has called on armed groups to abandon violence and join the peace process.
Adil made the statement at a press conference in Juba on Thursday while giving an account of his 12-day working tour of Central Equatoria State, during which he visited Terekeka, Lainya, Wonduruba, Yei River and Morobo counties, among other areas.
The tour focused on listening to communities and assessing challenges affecting service delivery, infrastructure and the return of displaced populations.
“I say plainly, what I said there is that insecurity is holding back development in almost every part. And those still carrying out, especially I said earlier, the SPLM-IO and NAS, let them lay down their tools and join peace. Because our people are suffering. So, in Kaya, finally, I graced the border,” Adil said.
He added, “We visited the border. We agreed on a joint implementation matrix with our counterparts in Uganda, with our commissioner of Morobo, especially the sisterly security forces at the local administration. This is in follow-up to our Arua border meeting, which was to ease the tensions between Uganda and South Sudan as a result of skirmishes that happened on our border with Kajo-Keji.”
He said communities repeatedly identified insecurity alongside poor roads, inadequate healthcare, education challenges, water shortages and displacement as major concerns.
Adil noted that the state government had taken note of the concerns and would use them to guide its development priorities.
“Our people’s call has been very clear in this journey, and that is peace. And everybody should listen to the people,” he stated.
He appealed to armed groups operating in parts of Central Equatoria, including SPLA-IO and NAS forces, to lay down their weapons and join the peace process.
Adil accused SPLA-IO forces stationed in Panyume, Morobo County, of robbing, looting and harassing civilians, while urging them to respect civilians and the peace process.
“Those still carrying out, especially I said earlier, the SPL-IO and NAS, let them lay down their tools and join peace,” he said. “Because our people are suffering.”
The governor also urged Gen. Kenyi Lathi (Kenyi Lobron), whom he identified as a son of the area and a member of an armed group fighting the government and other holdout forces, to accept the government’s amnesty and return to civilian life.
The security concerns come as communities in Greater Yei continue to demand improved security and rehabilitation of the Juba-Lainya-Yei-Kaya road, which residents say is vital for trade, movement and access to essential services.
During the tour, Adil inspected a series of government projects aimed at improving services despite the security challenges.
These included upgrading health facilities in Lainya and Terekeka to county rural hospitals, expanding schools and boarding facilities, supporting health infrastructure in Yei and Morobo, and committing to road rehabilitation.
In Yei River County, the governor highlighted the establishment of the University of Yei and the elevation of Yei Day Senior Secondary School to boarding status.
Meanwhile, in Morobo, he said the government would upgrade Kanya Secondary School and construct Kimba Secondary School.
He also said the state would work with development partners to rehabilitate Morobo Hospital, which he said had been looted by what he described as anti-peace elements.
Beyond security, Adil further stressed that his administration is working on addressing illegal mining and cross-border challenges.
He directed artisanal miners operating across the state to register with the mining authorities and obtain licenses, warning that authorities would soon crack down on illegal operations.
The governor said Central Equatoria would work with Ugandan authorities to curb smuggling, particularly fuel smuggling, and strengthen relations along the border.