By Bida Elly David
President Salva Kiir Mayardit has directed the new Chief Administrator of Greater Pibor Administration Area (GPAA), Gola Boyoi Gola, to restore peace in the restive region.
Kiir gave the directive while presiding over swearing-in of the new Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) Chief at president’s office on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro, also urged the chief administrator to promote unity and reconciliation among the people of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
According to office of the president, Gola promised to uphold unity and stability, emphasizing that peace and security are essential for development.
Mr. Gola, a former leader of national youth union, was appointed through a presidential decree, last week.
He replaces the former chief administrator, Lokoli Ame Bullen, who was fired in a separate decree that same evening before Gola’s appointment.
Ame’s successor, the former chairperson of National Youth Union, concluded his leadership with some mayhem at the end of his term, but he handed over the office successfully.
Upon his swearing in on Friday, Gola will now take over administrative affairs of GPAA.
The GPAA region, inhabited mostly by the Murle and Anyuak, has experienced periodic violence between the two communities and with other groups from neighboring Jonglei State. Some of the violence is motivated by cattle rustling and child abduction.
The latest flare-up of violence in Pibor was witnessed last month when young armed youth killed 15 people in the eastern region, including a county commissioner.