Jonglei governor calls for serious dialogue at local leaders’ forum
September 9, 2010 (BOR) – Jonglei state governor urges counties commissioners meeting in the state capital, Bor, to abandon differences and engage in serious discussions to address security threats.
The commissioners’ forum for 11 counties of Jonglei state is meeting for the first time since April elections. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is sponsoring the forum under the theme ‘consensus building and institutional development’. The convergence aims to engage head chiefs in sharing experience, achievement and lesson from respective counties.
In today’s session, commissioners represented county biography and services provisional sections where significant changes have been made since the return of peace to the country in 2005. The county leaders claimed that education has improved marvelously in terms of school enrollment. In Bor county, for instance, the county had 32 primary and secondary schools at the beginning of 2005 with about 13,000 children enrolled. There are 58 schools with nearly 21,000 children today and girl child enrollment which was at 18% rose to approximately 40%, according to Bor county commissioner, Maker Lual Kuol.
In Ayod, where the area only secondary school was suited in Malakal before peace and transferred home recently, Commissioner Thoi Chany Reat hails the construction of first girls’ school in the county.
However, Jonglei state trails in road network and is the one of places in Sudan where a county cannot be reached during rainy season. Counties such as Pibor, Pochala, Fangak, Uror, Pigi, Nyirol and Akobo are isolated for nearly half of every year due to lack of all seasons roads. “During rainy season, there is no effective administrative work,” James Mijak, Pigi county commissioner said.
NO STEP TAKEN SINCE 2005 IN HEALTH SECTOR
Five years since southern Sudan government was established following the signing of CPA, counties commissioners admitted that not much has been added to provision of medical services, clean drinking water and sanitation. Citizens of Jonglei state medical services outside their territory and no step has been taken since the CPA brought hopes to southerners.
Above all, child abduction is rampage and armed clashes worsen following Gen. George Athor Deng and David Yauyau refusal to accept April elections defeat for state gubernatorial and legislative seats respectively.
Clashes over cattle and related conflicts have killed at least 300 people in Bor county and an equal of children is abducted over the same period, according to commissioner Maker Lual Kuol.
SECURITY IMPROVED RECENTLY
The counties’ leaders also commend recent improvement in security in Pigi county where South Sudan army, the SPLA, has been fighting Gen Athor. Report of insecurity such as child abduction has and cattle raiding has reduced prompting Jonglei state governor Kuol to pledge speedy construction of roads that began a few weeks ago here in Bor town.
“The water projects crucial for greater Akobo and Pibor counties may start in the beginning of dry season if there will be no security threats in addition to road network already underway,” governor Kuol noted.
However, he said “spoilers of peaceful co-existence among the communities” do not “use to live in harmony” in reference to Gen Athor and Yauyau whom he describes as “two politicians who reject defeat.”
Turning to main challenges facing the state which governor Kuol says are the 2011 referendum and insecurity he said: “I urge you [commissioners] to have serious discussion in this forum to unveil the necessary tools…that may enable you [to] strengthen good governance.”
“The CPA gives people of southern Sudan and Abyei area democratic rights to self determination on 9 January 2011. This is not an easy walk to this final phase of the agreement, especially in Jonglei state where 4 individuals have taken the laws in their own hands,” governor Kuol noted.
The commissioners’ forum day one ended at 7:00pm local time on Thursday after lengthy presentation from commissioners who shy figure pointing county or/ counties leaders hosting prominent raiders and child abductors despite pressing questions to reveal who is behind the problems mentioned and only reply; ‘you know them.’
The second day will focus on ways forward and lectures from facilitators before ending with resolution on Saturday September 11.
(ST)