By Baraka John
The United Kingdom’s Ambassador to South Sudan, Ashley David William, arrived in Yambio on Wednesday for high-level discussions with Western Equatoria State Governor Daniel Badagbu on strengthening measures to prevent Ebola from reaching the state.
The meeting focused on enhancing the state’s preparedness and response capacity against the Ebola virus, amid ongoing regional health concerns. Both sides emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts to protect communities and reinforce public health systems.
Beyond health preparedness, the discussions also addressed humanitarian support for conflict-affected communities, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), as well as initiatives aimed at helping communities recover and rebuild following years of insecurity.
Governor Badagbu, accompanied by state ministers and the Speaker of the Western Equatoria State Transitional Legislative Assembly, met with Ambassador Ashley and officials from the British Embassy to explore areas of continued cooperation between the United Kingdom and Western Equatoria State.
Speaking during the visit, Ambassador Ashley David William reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting South Sudan’s development, stressing that lasting peace is essential for progress.
“The UK remains one of South Sudan’s strongest partners, and it was a pleasure to meet with the governor, his team of state ministers, and the speaker of the state parliament to discuss the wide range of issues on which the UK and South Sudan are working together. We also discussed health and education, with education serving as the basis for long-term development and health remaining critically important. In addition, we reviewed the preparations and efforts being made to prevent Ebola from reaching Western Equatoria.”
Governor Badagbu welcomed the British delegation and expressed gratitude to the UK government and its people for their continued partnership with South Sudan, particularly Western Equatoria State.
“We have had a very fruitful meeting with the ambassador. We discussed issues of peace and stability in the state, which are key to development. We also discussed humanitarian assistance, health, education, gender-based violence (GBV), and measures to prevent Ebola from entering South Sudan. The UK remains one of our key partners, supporting the country and, in particular, the people of Western Equatoria. We have seen firsthand the positive impact of that support in our state, and we are very grateful.”
He acknowledged the significant role played by development partners in improving livelihoods and strengthening local communities, while underscoring the need for sustained collaboration to advance peace, stability, environmental conservation, and sustainable development.