Eresto Taban, Commissioner of Lainya County in South Sudan’s Yei River State said that they have form a committee led by religious leaders and chiefs to negotiate with rebel groups who are fighting against the government in the area.
Taban told Radio Tamazuj that the committee will ask the armed opposition groups to stop targeted killings and accept peace and stability in the area.
Separately, the local official complained about worsening humanitarian situation owing to shortages of food and medicines in the county. He pointed out that the World Food Programme (WFP) had carried out a need-assessment survey last month, but it has not yet returned back to the area.
He noted that the SPLA forces deployed to the area do not have food and medicines, prompting them to kill and loot citizens’ properties. Taban called on the government to provide food and medicines to the SPLA forces as soon as possible.