In an announcement made during the commemoration of the International Day of Peace last week, Western Bahr el Ghazal State Governor Sarah Cleto Rial affirmed her commitment to providing a free and secure political environment for all political parties as the 2024 general elections approach.
Cleto assured that state security forces are ready to safeguard political activities from any potential disruptions.
“We are assuring everybody that there is a political space in Western Bahr el Ghazal State,” she guaranteed. “If there is any political party planning an activity, they are welcome and our security agents will be available to offer them protection against anyone who will attempt to disrupt their political activities.”
The governor disclosed that the Democratic Change Party is set to hold an event in Wau next week to organize its members and carry out political party activities.
“We will ensure that political space is opened for all political parties,” Cleto vowed.
Highlighting the significance of the upcoming elections, she urged political players to work for future generations.
“What is our mission as a state for the next 50 years? Some of us will not be alive and there will be a new generation,” Cleto advised. “Let us think about what we can do for our young generation, and what we want them to inherit.”
The governor also addressed the ongoing influx of returnees and refugees from neighboring Sudan and said her government’s policy is to reunite returnees with their families instead of setting up Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
“We do not want to establish IDP camps, there will be no IDP camps. We are reuniting those that arrive with their families so that they can stay together,” she stated. “We do not want those coming from Sudan to find that there are still people at the IDP camps because this will give them fear.”
Governor Cleto added: “For us to build a culture of peace and stability, we have to abandon tribalism and there should be respect among people.”
She reiterated that the state’s primary focus is peace-building through service delivery, emphasizing unity and cooperation among all residents.
In response to Governor Cleto’s assertion about commitment to free political space, Stephen Robo Musa, the state coordinator of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said it is a significant step toward a more democratic society.
“We expect the same statement to come from Deputy Governor Zachariah Joseph Garang since he is also the chairperson of the SPLM party in the state. There have been counter accusations from the main parties, SPLM and SPLM–IO, with each one accusing the other of compromising their freedom of movement and restricting freedoms, civic and political space in the state,” he noted. “In civil society, we know that there are a lot of issues that are not addressed simply because if we talk about such space, we might face repercussions. So, we need that guarantee. Such a statement helps us to work together with the state government to ensure that everyone enjoys their right to freedom of expression.”