A member of parliament has asked leaders in South Sudan to stop blaming each other over the crisis in the country and to instead seek solutions to the challenges facing their people.
A member of parliament has asked leaders in South Sudan to stop blaming each other over the crisis in the country and to instead seek solutions to the challenges facing their people.
Hon. Deng Dau, MP for Twich East constituency specifically appealed to natives of Upper Nile region to join hands and work out mechanism to bring about peace.“Our states are severely affected by the current rebellion; the insecurity is rampant in our states (Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei). It is of our interest to condemn what happened on December15th, any act that changes the democratically elected leadership by force we must reject,” he said.
According to Deng, of the three million people in Greater Upper Nile, about two million have been displaced and facing humanitarian crisis in Internally Displaced People’s camps and in UN camps.
He was speaking during a meeting of leaders from the Greater Upper Nile region in Juba today, that was called to chart the way forward in light of the conflict that erupted in the country in December, 2013. He told the gathering that the conflict has restructured political dimensions causing great mistrust.
“We urge our government to urgently bring the situation under control, particularly in Upper Nile, we want the rebels to be flashed out in Nassir and Malakal must be liberated,” he said. “We support reconciliation, religious leaders to be the bridge between those under rebel-controlled areas so that humanitarian services are provided.”
Simon Kun Pouch, the governor of Upper Nile State, on behalf of governors from the three states applauded the natives of the region for having come together for consultation.
“This is a great day for us the people of Greater Upper Nile Region,” he said.
He regretted that the meeting did not take place earlier, but added that what was important was the fact that it had taken off. He gave an account of the huge destruction and displacements which had severely affected the three states. He confirmed that Malakal was still under the control of rebels.
Pouch called for the government to support citizens and security forces in the states. He further called for members of states government and council of states to visit citizens and forces in Upper Nile.
“Our citizens in displacement and the forces need support and consolation. This helps our forces to understand their duty to defend the nation and the national constitution,” he said.
He added that the current conflict should not be taken as a conflict between the Dinka and Nuer, but called it a political issue. The governor decried the death of thousands of people in Upper Nile.
“I bury them every day in Malakal. Let’s forget about the past, this is a crucial time, we must look forward to good resolutions, and we at the states government would be more than willing to implement the resolutions of this consultative meeting,” he said.
In his opening remarks, Rt. Hon Manasseh Magok Rundial, Speaker of National Assembly and convenor of the consultative meeting said the region is terribly abused by the rebellion.
“Huge numbers of people from Greater Upper Nile have died,” he said. "Currently, it is difficult for our government to convince citizens to return home due to fear."
The Speaker assured the gathering that the resolutions of the meeting will be shared widely and will be presented to the president and treated as roadmap for peace and reconciliation in upper Nile region.