Governor rejects relocation of C. Equatoria capital out of Juba

Aug 8, 2006 (JUBA) — The Governor of Central Equatoria State (CES), Clement Wani Konga has reiterated his opposition to the relocating of the CES capital from Juba to another area.

Governor Konga said that Juba is a central point between Eastern and Western Equatoria and should remain as the state capital. He added that he is consulting with other leaders on the issue but the last decision will come from the people of the state.

In accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the government of Southern Sudan has decided that Juba is the capital of Southern Sudan. GoSS also decided to transfer the CES headquarters from Juba to Yei.

But this decision finds opposition of CES people and officials. They want Juba to remain both the capital of South Sudan and Central Equatoria State. It seems that GoSS efforts to convince Bari dignitaries are unproductive for the time being.

Clement Wani told Sudan Radio Service: “Central Equatoria is an established state since the colonial period with its capital in Juba. In which also southern Sudan was here after the Addis Ababa agreement, nothing of that kind took place. When the Khartoum peace agreement was signed the capital of southern Sudan was also brought to Juba and they coexisted. So what is the difference? Is southern Sudan an independent state now?”

For GoSS the lands that are essentially classified as government property could hardly suffice the growing needs. Also the surrounding indigenous communities are blocking any further expansion of the town into their traditional communal lands.

Many Bari leaders say GoSS officials want to control their land and do business to the detriment of the Bari. They ask the government to remove displaced people form the area and develop the two levels of administration.

(ST/SRS)