By Peter Kuol Kuch
A three-day Commissioners’ Forum has concluded with a call to prioritize farming and to end revenge killings and cattle raiding across Jonglei State this year.
During her address at the closure of the forum on Wednesday, Acting Governor Atong Kuol Manyang urged commissioners to promote and enhance farming activities among local communities.
“We have been discussing farming; this is the policy of the government, from the state level to the counties and indeed to the payams. Our President has also been encouraging citizens to farm in order to boost agriculture. How do we achieve this? We need tools and seeds, and we can be assisted by our partners,” she said.
Atong Kuol Manyang emphasized that pursuing sustainable farming this year would help reduce hunger and boost the state’s economy.
“Cultivation is the backbone of every successful country. We are blessed in South Sudan, beginning with the vast land we have and the Nile waters. We must learn to enjoy these resources,” Atong stated.
On another note, Atong tasked commissioners and local chiefs with educating residents in their respective counties about the dangers of revenge killings and cattle raiding. She noted that these practices do not foster peace and coexistence but instead lead to loss of life and property.
“The issues I mentioned yesterday, such as revenge killings, cattle raiding, and child abduction, are major challenges we face now, but we cannot give up on our efforts to mitigate them,” she said.
Atong highlighted that the possession of illegal firearms among the civilian population contributes to the lack of peace within communities.
She called on the South Sudan National Government to implement disarmament initiatives in Jonglei State and its neighboring areas.
“There are certain responsibilities that solely belong to the national government, particularly regarding the removal of weapons. The national government must ensure that illegal firearms are eliminated,” Kuol stated.
Atong appealed to commissioners and local chiefs to refrain from tribal politics and instead work together for peace and harmony within their communities.
The Commissioners’ Forum was attended by nine commissioners, local chiefs, civil society representatives, and other officials from the Jonglei State government. It was supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in Bor.