New Unity State Governor Justice Riak Bim has directed the seven commissioners to address the insecurity in their counties and around the borders with Lakes and Warrap states and Abyei and Ruweng administrative areas.
The governor issued the directive while addressing a welcoming gathering at the Bentiu Stadium on Friday. Bim was appointed on May 20 after President Salve Kiir removed the long-serving Joseph Nguen Monytuil.
He told the commissioners that he did not want to hear of any reports of killings.
“If you report a killing but fail to arrest the perpetrators, you will go home, he warned, adding that: “I want our people to enjoy peace like the rest of the states.”
The governor announced the suspension of building projects until the end of the expected flooding. He also announced that legal experts would come to Bentiu to establish a court next week, and warned the commissioners to desist from resolving the death disputes with the blood money compensations.
The governor promised the people that he would establish where their 5% oil revenue share went.
Meanwhile, the National Minister for Culture, Nadi Arop, promised to cooperate with the governor to ensure the provision of good roads, water, enough medical care and security across the seven counties.
Nadi said the reason for the appointment of Justice Riek Bim was to save the people and President Kiir had directed him to address the conflicts between the Ruweng Administrative Area communities and their Unity State counterparts.
A resident of the Bentiu IDP camp, who attended the welcoming of the new governor, Tap Mark Diu, said they were delighted by his visit to the regional capital.
She said she hoped to see the governor resume the development in the state that had stalled since December 2013.
“I want security reforms and on the checkpoints in Unity State. For instance, if you want to go to the southern part, you encounter 12 checkpoints between Bentiu and Leer,” she said.