Kwongo Dak Padiet, The King (“Reth”) of the Shilluk community, has appealed to the South Sudan political leaders to reflect and discuss the unity of the country.
Last week, South Sudan’s government postponed the December 2024 general elections until December 2026, citing a lack of preparedness.
This is the second time the country, which gained independence in 2011, is postponing elections and extending a transitional period that started in February 2020.
The country is going through an economic crisis that has seen civil servants go unpaid for almost one year, after its oil exports were affected by a damaged pipeline amid the civil war in neighbouring Sudan through which it exports.
The traditional leader told Radio Tamazuj from Nairobi that the language of peace would encourage those who have fled to return to their homeland.
He said the people in need found it difficult to seek help from the political leaders who were at odds with each other.
“Currently, we are talking about meetings in Kenya, if Kenyans become unhappy with us for failing to heed their advice, they may expel us,” he warned.
“The leaders must learn to cooperate for the unity of the country. We need peace as our people were suffering in exile,” he said.
The traditional leader encouraged members of the Shilluk community in Kenya to be strong and to send their children to school.
“I know the situation is difficult and finding food and work are a challenge, but send your children to school with the little that you get.”
He said there would be a time when South Sudan would be peaceful and stable for the safe return of those in exile.
“My message to the South Sudanese in Kenya is to unite, because your presence in one place is evidence of good interaction between you,” he said.
Kwongo regretted that though there were doctors in South Sudan, lack of screening and diagnostic facilities forced the people to seek medical care abroad.