The newly appointed governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal State, Sarah Cleto Rial has advised the country’s citizens not to be divided based on tribes or regions.

“It is not about tribes, it is not about regions, [but] about all of us South Sudanese.  We have to come together,” Sarah told reporters upon her arrival to Juba from the United States on Sunday.

 Sarah emphasized the need to consolidate peace through the collective efforts of all the country’s citizens. She appealed to women to be counted in peacebuilding efforts.

“I know you have done a lot, but because you are not in the position of the government, it is not being recognized so much. The work you have done as women can be seen in the nation,” Sarah said.

She added, “I just want people to trust us, not by what we always hear. This is the time for women to hold positions because we have suffered enough.”

President Salva Kiir recently appointed Sarah Cleto among the eight governors under the state power-sharing arrangement. She was nominated by Riek Machar’s party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO).