Warrap Governor urges local leaders’ cooperation to promote peace

October 24, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Governor of Warrap State, Tor Deng, urged traditional chiefs to cooperate with to end local conflicts saying he is determined to promoting peace and unity between individuals and tribes in his territorial region.

The Governor made his remarks in a meeting he held in his office with the traditional leaders from both Apuk and Aguok communities, who have been during three years tribal in conflict, in his office yesterday on Friday 23.

Mawien stressed that his government strives to promote peace and put an end to the root causes of local conflicts that led the different communities to resort to the use of arms.

After listening to issues raised by chiefs from both sides, he said his administration remains committed to preaching and maintaining peace through reconciliation initiatives in the area.

The governor, who had summoned paramount chiefs from both areas ahead of civilians’ disarmament in the state, said he wanted traditional leaders to initiate peaceful and possible ways to collect firearms from individuals in their respective communities.

“I called you not because I do not have information of areas that are suspected to have acquired bulky firearms but to involve you as leaders in the peaceful process of arms’ collection,” he said.

“If we can collect and hand small firms to the government as required, why do we need forced disarmament carried out in our areas,” he posed advising chiefs to go back and begin collecting arms and report back to him within a month’s time.

On the similar development, the governor has called on women groups to act as advisors on disarmament process and in peace building across the state.

You are the custodian of all crucial both developing and destructing information, he said adding women needs to advise their husbands and sons hands illegal weapons to the state government.

(ST)