Lakes governor heralds return of wildlife on visit to northern county
October 31, 2008 (RUMBEK) – The governor of Lakes state made a surprise visit Thursday to Maper in the most inaccessible county of Lakes state, announcing that returning wildlife need to be protected.
Governor Daniel Awet Akot’s overall purpose in visiting was to prepare the venue for a conference on inter-state violence and cattle theft.
Wild animals are reported to be returning to Rumbek North County (Maper), which is about 75 miles (120 km) away from Rumbek. The migrating animals destroy crops, but the governor said that he wants ensure that those animals are protected.
The wildlife force is tasked with preventing further shooting by local hunters.
“Animals occupy territory of Alor and Maper in the eastern part of Maper County,” said the governor’s spokesman.
Governor Akot was accompanied by members of United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), using an UNMIS helicopter to visit remote Maper for the fifth time since he took office on Sept. 5, 2006.
The governor and the UN officials made preparations for an upcoming conference, which will bring together five state governments of Southern Sudan, the semi-autonomous region that won its constitutional status in a 2005 peace agreement with the northern government of Sudan.
The state governments that will participate are Northern Bhar El Ghazal, Western Bhar El Ghazal, Warrap and Lakes as the host of the forum, which is expected to take place in mid November of this year.
One focus of discussion will be how disarmament exercises can be carried out peacefully between the neighboring states.
(ST)