The governor of Central Equatoria State has appealed to the newly appointed Kajo-Keji County commissioner Phanuel Dumo to prioritize peace, security, and the peaceful return of refugees.

Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony was speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the new commissioner in Juba on Monday. 

He urged commissioner Dumo to intensify efforts on security stabilization to facilitate the refugee return program as well as exhibiting the collegial spirit of working as signatories to the Revitalized Peace Agreement to meet the demands of the common people.

“People need to be encouraged to come back home because people are suffering in the refugee camps with food ratios reduced to 3 kilograms per person and little money which is not even enough for two days yet we have good arable land in Kajo-Keji. Commissioner, you must go home and start giving hope to the people the Kuku people who want to see one united voice, and together with you they will come back home within one hour,” he noted.

Adil also urged the Kajo-Keji Community to support their new commissioner in delivering his services to them. 

Similarly, Kajo-Keji Community leader Agrey Tisa Sabuni urged the new commissioner to promote peace and unity in the county. 

“Priority number one is to bring back to the county and to our land our people who are now languishing as refugee camps outside the count. We also want you to unite our Kajo-Kjei people because we are fully aware of what has happened but you need to work as the commissioner for all the people of Kajo-Keji by uniting them and one of your job roles is to provide services to the people, leadership, and stability on the ground,” Tisa said. 

Meanwhile, commissioner Dumo expressed readiness to work with community leaders and the state leadership in ensuring stability and safe return of the refugees.

“My priority and plans for Kajo-Keji County is the return of the returnees back home," he said. "Secondly, total peace and stability that will guarantee the return of the returnees because people will not return when there is no peace and stability and when there is peace, it will permit people to return home to participate in development."