Central Equatoria State Caretaker Governor Juma Ali Malou said his government is preparing to reorganize and mobilize its regular forces in line with the transitional security arrangements of the new peace agreement in South Sudan.

Juma Ali spoke at a swearing-in ceremony of the newly reinstated mayor of Juba city council, Christopher Sarafini Wani Swaka and his two deputies on Thursday.

The state governor stated that the compromise peace agreement signed by the two warring parties is a glimpse of hope for the bright future of South Sudan. “We have to join hands and do what we see as our future. This peace is our future because all of us need peace,” Ali said.

The state official vowed to spearhead the implementation phase in the state as the seat of the upcoming new transitional government. Ali Malou pledged to restore security and disseminate the peace agreement signed by President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar in August.

“The main role is to take the same peace message to the grassroots, to the counties, to the payams, to the bomas and to the villages and also to the cattle camps. So this should be the first role we have to do now,” he said.

Malou directed the reinstated mayor to exert great efforts to achieve more development projects and open up new roads to control surging crime in the town. For his part, the Juba mayor vowed to work tirelessly and serve the people in accordance with the vision of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

Christopher vowed to stand firm behind the state governor in his endeavour to disseminate the peace message to the citizens, saying the council has been negatively affected by economic and security challenges due to lack of peace in the country.