Juma Ali Malou, the newly appointed caretaker governor of Central Equatoria state, has vowed to tackle insecurity within Juba and along roads leading to the capital. Malou was speaking at a meeting of Jube County chiefs last week.

“We in Central Equatoria, especially Juba County, as some of you, the chiefs, have said, have two problems,” he said. “People have been dying at the hands of criminals. Those dying are not only the police and soldiers, but also the civilians. The issue of cattle in the state has divided the people. This is going to be my first point in my administration.”

Malou also called on the chiefs to promote cooperation and unity within their communities, as that was the best way to achieve peace.

“Without our cooperation as an administration and citizens, our organized forces will not get good information to settle the security situation to bring peace in South Sudan,” he told the chiefs.

Denis Daramalo Fundi, the paramount chief of Juba County, said it was appropriate for the governor to ask for their cooperation.

“The chiefs are at the grassroots,” he said. “We have passed many governments since we were as one Sudan. We know what the role of chiefs in the community was that time… All these things we have been seeing. If we have seen that something is wrong, we have a right to say it is wrong.”

Malou acknowledged that the rising price of goods in Juba is likely behind the recent spike in crime.

The chiefs warned that the situation was going to get worse in Juba, because there was a bad harvest this year, the result of too much sun destroying local crops.

Photo: Central Equatoria Caretaker Governor Juma Ali Malou