By Bosco Bush
First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar and some Members of Parliament (MPs) representing Nasir County in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) convened a meeting to discuss a new initiative to promote peace in Nasir County, Upper Nile State.
The meeting held on Tuesday, October 22, in Machar’s office, discussed key issues including the recent clashes between armed civilians and members of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in the area as well as other challenges within the community.
In a statement seen by this outlet, Dr. Machar expressed his support for the initiative and underscored the significance of promoting peace and collaborative efforts for reconciliation among the people in the area.
After the meeting, lawmaker, Hon. Lidia John Jock stated that the discussion was centred to seek a permanent resolution to the recurrent violence and the hardships faced by the communities in Nasir County.
She assured that efforts to engage further with the President would continue so as to advance initiatives for sustainable peace and stability in the area.
Last week, South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) clarified that the violent incident in Nasir County which resulted in the deaths of 17 people—including four civilians—was not a targeted attack on civilians but stemmed from a personal dispute involving two soldiers.
Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, the spokesperson for the SSPDF explained that the incident centred on a complicated love triangle involving two servicemen and a married woman.
Upper Nile State Governor, James Odhok is holding a peace rally in Ulang County urging the residents to foster peaceful coexistence among one another.
According to the governor’s press unit, Odhok will proceed to Nasir County where he’s expected to hold a series of engagements and meetings with the local communities similarly aimed at finding sustainable solutions to the recurring violence in the area.