The Greater Equatoria regional conference for traditional authorities concluded last week with calls to empower traditional leaders for the promotion of peace and unity in their communities.
The two-day UNMISS-organized regional conference, under the theme ‘Empowering local peace infrastructure to address local disputes and resolve communal conflict’ concluded last week.
More than 50 traditional leaders from Central, Eastern, and Western Equatoria states deliberated on resolutions and recommendations to be presented at the national traditional authorities conference for further deliberations.
Eastern Equatoria’s state minister of local government and law enforcement agencies Peter Lokeng Lotone said his government will do all it can to maintain peace at local levels through collaboration with community leaders.
While addressing the chiefs, Lokeng said: “The contributions you have brought out here have to be reflected in a big conference in Juba and that will bring a tool for South Sudan to work with it to bring peace.”
The minister of local government in Central Equatoria Moro Isaac Jenesio warned chiefs against working with politicians but instead always focus on the good of the community through speaking the truth and executive laws.
“The chiefs are not disciples of any political individual, the chiefs are servants of the community and they must always speak the truth interpret the customs and the traditions execute them the way they are. Chiefs don’t accept manipulation from politicians,” he pleaded with the chiefs.
Chief Mborimba Renzi Tomburo representing his colleagues from Western Equatoria State said the conference has opened their eyes to issues hindering performance.
“We call upon our government to put into consideration the voice of the voiceless people through the traditional leaders,” he said. “South Sudan has got so many laws but the main problem is implementation. Without implementation, this conference will not achieve anything. Therefore it is our sole responsibility as the custodians of peace at the grassroots to make sure that once the law is enacted it should be given to the grassroots leaders to disseminate the message to the people to preserve our coexistence as one people one nation.”
Meanwhile, Mathew Lodu John, the Paramount Chief of Lainya County, hailed the conference saying it unites chiefs and gives them a chance to feel connected.
Chief Lodu raised an alarm over the lack of institutions of higher learning in the regions saying most students are not able to further their studies.
“I request that the government should come up with a policy to build branches of universities in different locations so that students can access higher learning,” he said.
Other issues raised and discussed during the conference included land issues, the management of natural resources, security and protection of traditional leaders, cross-border cattle migration and management, governance, and the role of chiefs in decision-making processes.