The commissioner of Lainya County in Central Equatoria State has appealed to the sons of the area who are involved in armed rebellion to lay down their weapons and return home.
Some notable figures from the county are believed to have joined the rebel outfit, National Salvation Front, under the leadership of Gen. Thomas Cirillo.
Speaking at the fortieth SPLM anniversary celebrations, Commissioner Emmanuel Khemis Richard urged the sons of Lainya who have taken up arms against the government to embrace peace and return home.
“We are the ones who disorganized Lainya ourselves as people of Lainya County. So, if we want peace in the area, we first have to distance ourselves from rebellions. Secondly, we should not support rebellions and we should not give a chance to anyone to bring rebels to our area,” he said. “The conflict that happened in Lainya is a result of our sons taking up guns against the government. We still have one party that has not agreed to dialogue with the government.”
“I want to send my message direct that all of us should work so that people like Suba Samuel, Kenyi Lo Burong, Kwaje Elia, and Kenyi Warrior return home for peace,” Khemis added.
He warned that the government will not tolerate those who are not ready to dialogue for peace.
“We as the government cannot give a chance to people who do not want peace because Lainya is not a place for your rebel activities,” he said. “I want to tell the people of Lainya that as long as the government is available, no one should take the law into their hands.”
The commissioner urged the people not to usurp the powers of the government and said the authorities are working as evidenced by the departure of pastoralists from Bor together with their cattle.
“We want to work to end the unnecessary suffering of our people and as leaders, let us prevail on our people as we equally appeal to the leaders of the cattle-keeping communities to prevail on their people,” Khemis said.