Citizens of Baggari Payam in Wau County, South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal State, have decried the lack of basic amenities in their area, which is the county headquarters.

The commissioner of Wau County, who currently works from Wau municipality, is unable to discharge his duties at the county headquarters in Baggari due to an unresolved dispute.

The dispute dates back to the 2012 political crisis and violence over transferral of Wau county headquarters to Baggari Payam.

Baggari is currently under the opposition SPLM-IO.

Speaking on behalf of the community on Wednesday, the Paramount Chief of Greater Baggari Payam, Emilio Ulau, underscored that the locals deserve a better life and the right to be given basic services.

During a peace awareness activity in Baggari conducted by the UN Mission team in the area, Chief Emilio Ulau said the humanitarian situation is dire in the area due to poor rains this year.

“On the humanitarian condition this year, from June to August, the level of rains was low. This year, there will be poor harvest and low productivity due to little rain,” he said.

“On the health situation, Chief Ulau said the health facilities in the area are not getting any support from the state government. “Health facilities are there, but there is not enough support,” he explained.

The community leader also complained about the lack of quality education in the area, saying schools lack qualified teaching staff. “We have many schools in many areas, including Bringi, Baggari, Ngo-Dakala, Farajalla and Ngisa, but they don’t have qualified teachers. My message to everybody is that people are in peace and if so, we need support from well-wishers to come down to Baggari because if our children don’t get an education after this war, it will affect the next generation,” he added.

Meanwhile, Margret Caesar Zamangi, a legislator representing Baggari in the state parliament, said: “If there is no peace, there will be no stability and development, and now if there is anyone who wants to offer support to the people of Baggari, she or he is welcome because peace has now returned to the area.”

She added, “I want to guarantee that our voice as citizens of Baggari is reaching donors willing to intervene with their aid on the side of education, agriculture and health.”

Zamangi also assured the citizens of Baggari that the assembly is working hard to compliment the implementation of the revitalize peace agreement.

For his part, the opposition SPLA-IO field commander in Baggari, Brigadier General John Ucin Madiraino, said the security in the area is stable and that they are implementing the peace agreement.

“Baggari is not having any problem. All vehicles passing here, NGOs and whoever, we are here for your protection in the area…We are soldiers, and we are telling the truth. We don’t say things which are not true because we are here for the protection of our civilians. If anything happens to any civilian, it is my responsibility as a field commander,” he concluded.