Skip to main content
TORIT - 10 Jul 2020

Governor Lobong vows to prioritize reconciliation

Eastern Equatoria Governor Louis Lobong speaks to reporters at Torit airstrip on July 9, 2020 (Radio Tamazuj)
Eastern Equatoria Governor Louis Lobong speaks to reporters at Torit airstrip on July 9, 2020 (Radio Tamazuj)

Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong Lojore has vowed to prioritize peace and reconciliation among the various communities in the state.

Lobong made the remarks while addressing thousands of people who welcomed him on arrival in the state capital, Torit on Thursday.

Central Equatoria State Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony, and environment minister, Josephine Napon Cosmos accompanied Lobong.

“Am very much happy and excited to find a very big population of Eastern Equatoria in the capital, Torit waiting to receive me with my colleague, the governor of Central Equatoria State. I have been sent here by the SPLM leadership and the President of South Sudan, Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit to come and put Eastern Equatoria State in order and prepare people for prosperity,” said Lobong.

 He added, “Am here to bring people together in peace and unity in preparation for development and service delivery as they wait for the coming elections after three years. I’m just a servant sent ahead to prepare the ground. I’m not coming to govern people, but to put them together as they wait to elect their leader”.

The newly appointed governor appealed to the media to assist his government in disseminating peace messages to the population.  

Jackline Alexander Ohide, a resident of Eastern Equatoria, urged the governor to build roads, provide clean water and electricity.

“We are happy, but we have a lot of challenges. We need strong security in Eastern Equatoria and the unity of all villages. We don’t want tribalism in the state. Build roads so we can farm,” she said.

Ohide urged the governor to forget the past and reconcile people.

“We need hospitals, schools, clean water, and electricity. We also need peace, unity, and reconciliation amongst us all,” she stressed.

Jackson Mario, a traditional dancer from the Otuho tribe, urged the governor to reconcile the rival communities in the state.

“People should be one. If I go to the nearby Hillieu village, I should go in peace without any insecurity,” Mario explained.

He urged Lobong to work hard and ensure refugees return home.

President Kiir recently appointed Lobong among the eight governors under the state power-sharing arrangement. He was nominated by the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM).