Angelo Beda, the national dialogue committee co-chair, called on security forces to respect freedom of expression as the regional dialogue for Upper Nile region kicked off in Juba today.

The regional conference was relocated from Malakal to Juba city over lack of conference facilities.

Beda said security personnel should allow freedom of expression in the country as South Sudanese try to resolve the conflict through the national dialogue process.

“We don’t want the security to arrest anybody because of his or her views. Please don’t arrest anybody and people should talk openly so that our process can go ahead,” he said.

The national security law gives excessive powers to security forces, among others, arrest without a warrant, search suspected criminals and places, and seize property connected with crimes or offences against the state. 

Angelo noted that the dialogue provides a forum for all to thrash out the root causes of the conflict and agree on the future of the country.

The elderly politician called on the people of South Sudan to unite and welcome reconciliation. He urged the people of greater Upper Nile region to confess and forgive each other in order to fully foster unity and reconciliation.

The five-day regional conference is being attended by more than 200 delegates.

In late February, delegates from Bahr el Ghazal region held a regional dialogue in Wau town where they demanded for a federal system of government and allocation of land ownership to the government.

In December 2016, South Sudan President Salva Kiir launched the national dialogue initiative that seeks to reconcile and unite the East African nation torn apart by more than five years of civil war.