The governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State has tasked chiefs to mitigate conflicts among local communities and promised to provide the much-needed services.
Last Thursday, Governor Tong Akeen Ngor held a one-day meeting with all 23 paramount chiefs from across the state, which according to the state security adviser, Joseph Akok Aleu, was aimed at marshaling the leaders to tackle community conflicts.
“The purpose of the meeting is the reunification of traditional authorities so that there will be no more internal border conflicts in our areas and water shortages because the governor has visited the counties and witnessed the challenge,” Akok said. “The meeting was concluded successfully.”
The paramount chief of the Buonchuai community in Aweil South County, Piol Geng Araith, said all 23 paramount chiefs were directed to support the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.
“We the 23 paramount chiefs have been in the engagement with the governor and the governor wanted the chiefs and locals to support the realization of the peace implementation with effect from the new transitional period,” he said.
Another traditional leader, Dut Majak, said they discussed the roles of the chiefs in conflict resolution and security.
“We discussed that traditional authorities in the past used to come together and resolve any matters in an area,” he said. “Chiefs have a role in the management of communities and a chief is the security leader in his or her area.”