Louis Lobong, Governor of Eastern Equatoria state. | Credit | Courtesy
Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong Lojore has urged communities to embrace agriculture and fight hunger through food production, rather than using guns to rob one another.
Speaking during South Sudan’s 14th Independence Anniversary
celebration in Torit on Wednesday, Lobong called on families, youth, and
women’s groups to focus on agriculture now that the rains have started.
"We must fight hunger with our hoes, not with our guns.
You cannot use a gun to get food. You might get food for only one day. You may
also be arrested and end up in a problem. But if you take a hoe and fight for
food through farming, you can earn an income,” Lobong said.
The governor warned that using guns to rob others for food
only leads to crime and instability, while farming ensures long-term survival
and peace.
He emphasized that cultivating land is not only productive
but also keeps people away from criminal suspicion.
Lobong’s call comes amid growing food insecurity and rising
concerns over armed violence, as he urges communities to pursue agriculture as
a peaceful and sustainable way to improve livelihoods and reduce crime on the state's highways.