By Baraka John
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to South Sudan, Anita Kiki Gbeho, arrived in Yambio on Tuesday with a delegation of UN officials to discuss government priorities and assess the security situation, particularly in Tombura County.
Gbeho said the visit aimed to engage state authorities to understand their priorities and challenges better. She also expressed UNMISS’s readiness to work with the state government to explore measures to address issues affecting the state’s operations.
As part of the visit, the UN delegation travelled to Tombura County to assess the situation on the ground. The area has experienced intercommunal conflict for more than five years, raising continued concerns about peace and security.
“We discussed several areas of cooperation, particularly the protection of civilians. The governor highlighted that while some counties are peaceful, others continue to experience pockets of insecurity. We explored how we can work together to restore stability in those areas. The governor also expressed his commitment to dialogue, noting that he has declared an amnesty and seeking support to strengthen efforts to engage with those who are still bearing arms.” Anita Kiki Gbeho stated
Speaking during the meeting, Western Equatoria State Caretaker Governor Daniel Badagbu said seven of the state’s ten counties were experiencing peace, while three continued to face insecurity.
“We discussed several important issues affecting the people of South Sudan, particularly the people of Western Equatoria State. These include the protection of civilians, humanitarian assistance and access, human rights, and service delivery. We also discussed the security challenges in some counties. We explored ways to address them jointly with UNMISS, a long-standing partner with whom we have achieved significant results through our cooperation.” Governor Daniel Badagbu lamented
The visit comes amid ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation between the state government and international partners in addressing insecurity and supporting peacebuilding initiatives, particularly in conflict-affected areas.