South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit said Monday that there is lack of effective coordination between the national, state, and county governments.

Kiir was speaking at the Fourth State Governors’ Forum, a conference that aims to review the successes and challenges facing the country.

“Lack of effective coordination between the central government and the states then and the county authorities repetitively have featured very much during the previous years,” Kiir told the governors. “That also leads to lack of development in many states and this needs quickly to be addressed.”

He said it is the collective responsibility of the national government and states to make sure stability comes to the country. He said he assigned his vice president James Wani Igga to lead the national reconciliation process in the country for the sake of stability.

“As we speak today, I want to inform you also that there is fighting now in Bentiu since Riek Machar and his forces do not respect any cessation of hostilities and there is no authority that can really account them for their violence,” Kiir added.

“There is fighting in Bentiu and we are also expecting such action to erupt in different parts of Malakal," he continued. "This is just for your information because when we are talking about reconciliation the other side thinking they can have stories that to give to the international community exploring their ignorance about our situation.”

Awan Guol Riak, minister in the office of the president, said that the objective of the governor’s forum is to examine national strategic issues across South Sudan.  

The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization welcomed the governors’ forum, but questioned the governors of Western Bahr el Ghazal, Eastern Equatoria, and Lakes states over continued community violence and unlawful arrest and detention of citizens and state MPs.

CEPO also urged the state governors to demand peace in the nation.

Radio Tamazuj Photo, President Salva Kiir speaks to the Governors Forum in Juba Monday 27 October 2014