On Tuesday, the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State information minister, Abraham Wol Kom, met with local leaders from Aweil Center County to discuss ways of extending telecommunication networks to Awada Payam in Aweil Center County. 

The meeting which took place at the state ministry of information and communication in Aweil town was attended by the Aweil Center County Commissioner, Peter Natali, and his immediate predecessor, Arkangelo Uchu Dichak, and two former commissioners from the now-defunct Awada County. 

Information minister Wol told Radio Tamazuj, “They went far and identified the areas requiring the network coverage such as Awada, Longur Ukech, Bau, Barmayen and Maker. These areas are especially in need of network coverage. Of course, I committed as a minister that as soon as telecommunications authority people arrive from Juba, they may go for verification of the areas that require telephone network converge."

The minister vowed that he will collaborate with the county authorities to ensure that the areas within the county are connected to telephone networks.

The Aweil Center County commissioner, Peter Natali, said their meeting with the minister about connecting Awada Payam was fruitful.  

“The meeting that took place between the minister of information and us was based on the telephone network because we visited the populated Awada Payam which lacks the telephone services. The minister has responded positively to cooperate with us on the matter,’’ Commissioner Natali said. 

The former Aweil Center County commissioner, Arkangelo Uchu Dichak, said the citizens in Awada Payam have been suffering since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 and begged the government of national unity to set up telecommunications towers.