By Bosco Bush
First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar met and discussed peace initiatives with a group of lawmakers representing Unity State and Ruweng Administrative Area in the National Legislative Assembly.
The Thursday’s meeting focused on addressing a number of challenges affecting the neighboring communities including the recent devastating flood that has affected the local population.
Addressing the media after the meeting, lawmaker Farouk Gatkouth Kam expressed Dr. Machar’s readiness to support the peace initiative – urging the sisterly communities to “embrace peace and reconciliation.”
“The First Vice President applauded the initiative and emphasized on the importance of engaging the two sisterly communities in embracing peace,” Kam stated.
Kam disclosed that the group is looking forward to meet the presidency, some national ministers and the leaderships of Unity State and Ruweng Administrative Area to foster and strengthen the peace initiative.
Last June, UNMISS and Riak Manyiel Ayuel, a lawmaker representing Ruweng in the National Assembly made separate statements appealing to national government and local authorities to initiate a peace dialogue to mitigate the cross-border conflicts that has resulted in a number of deaths, destroyed properties, and displacement of civilians.