The 8th Governors’ Forum, which kicked off in Juba on Tuesday, is set to review progress on the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement, a senior official said.
As the highest policy platform, the forum brings together key stakeholders to discuss a broad range of issues related to governance, the economy, security, and peace.
Chol Mawut Ajongo, the Minister for Presidential Affairs, said the forum will focus on ways to expedite the implementation of the extended peace agreement roadmap.
“The forum also provides an opportunity for states to review the progress of the R-ARCSS roadmap implementation, as well as to support the extension of the transitional government until 2026,” Mawut said during his opening remarks in Juba on Tuesday.
Mawut highlighted the need to discuss the current economic challenges facing the country, which not only threaten livelihoods but also hinder the full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). He emphasized the role state governments can play in economic recovery.
“Another key point of discussion will be how to address inter-communal conflicts, cattle raiding, child and women abductions, and the challenges posed by floods,” Mawut continued.
“We will examine how these challenges, particularly security issues and displacement caused by floods, have affected our states, and share insights on how other regions have managed to mitigate these problems,” he added.
The minister further noted that the forum would focus on strengthening intergovernmental relations and coordination among the national government, state governments, and administrative areas.
“The forum remains an important platform for fostering dialogue and addressing various issues of national concern,” he added.
Meanwhile, Gen. Augustino Jadallah Kamilo Wani, Governor of Central Equatoria State, emphasized the importance of the forum in providing a platform to address the critical challenges faced by states and administrative areas.
“As a result, this 8th Governors’ Forum, organized under the theme Forging Sustainable Peace, Committed Action in the Extended RSS Transition, is highly relevant to our current situation,” Jadallah said. “It comes at a crucial time when our citizens are looking to us, their leaders, for commitment and confidence in achieving lasting peace as we look ahead to the democratic elections in 2026.”
The forum was established in 2006 by the Office of the President, with support from the UNDP and various partners.