Warrap residents have expressed mixed reactions to the new governor’s consultative meeting held in Juba with intellectuals, government officials, and community elders to discuss issues of insecurity and peacebuilding.
Many residents voiced concerns, calling on the governor to
prioritize addressing insecurity in the state.
Philip Madhal Mayom, a resident of Twic County, welcomed the
initiative, saying the meeting could help develop effective strategies to
address insecurity.
“The step taken to
conduct consultative meeting in Juba is good, then it will go back to the
grassroots. Insecurity, killings, armed robbery, and cattle raiding. All these
things are not good; therefore chiefs, women, and youth need to accept free
movement and live in peace,” Mayom said.
James Adhar Chol, a resident of Turalei Payam, emphasized the
need for the new governor to make insecurity his top priority.
“Insecurity is a threat especially in some few months ago, others
handed their gun and became vulnerable to insecurity and this need to be
discussed to find solutions of their safety and this solution need to come out
in juba,” Chol echoed.
Kerou Giir Thiik, a resident of Luanyaker town in Gogrial
East County, emphasized the need for a peacebuilding committee to promote
reconciliation across conflict-affected areas.
“To complete the
peacebuilding plan, the government needs to deploy forces in conflict areas
like Greater Tonj, Gogrial, and Twic. These areas experience cattle raiding and
revenge attacks. A peace committee must extend messages of peace as the best
solution,” Giir stated.
Warrap Governor Bol Wek Bol held a consultative meeting on
Saturday in Juba to address the conflict in the state, emphasizing the role of
mobile courts and traditional justice mechanisms during the six-month State of
Emergency.
He acknowledged that while military and state of emergency
responses are important, they alone cannot bring lasting peace.