President Kiir endorses peace deal with group of WES Arrow Boys: official
December 2, 2015 (YAMBIO) – South Sudanese president Salva Kiir has reportedly endorsed a local peace deal struck with a group of armed youth, known as the Arrow Boys, in Western Equatoria state to partially end years of anti-government activities in the area.
“The issue of the Arrow Boys, the preliminary agreement that we signed with the Gangura group, has been endorsed by the president and a go ahead has been given. We are expecting soon a team will be coming for the final communiqué,” Zamoi assured on Wednesday.
There were no details revealed to the public about contents of the alleged signed deal last month rather than a brief announcement that an agreement was struck.
Governor Zamoi however said the expected team from Juba will arrive in Yambio to engage the youth to find a possible way on how to consider their grievances and urged other groups of the arrow boys to cooperate and join in the process.
Youth in Western Equatoria state deserted their homes amidst insecurity, which engulfed almost all counties of the state for the past three years or more and demanded that the government should address issues of concern, including the encroachment into their lands by pastoralists mainly from the migrating Dinka community.
The youth accused some elements of the South Sudanese army (SPLA) of allegedly killing their people, looting their properties and raping their women. Lack of promotion to Equatorians in the army was also another grievance.
But Zamoi called on the youth to join in the implementation of the peace agreement which was recently concluded in August between president Kiir and the opposition leader, Machar.
The caretaker governor said the door was still open for the other group of the arrow boys to engage them in dialogue so that both sides could come to peaceful settlement.
He also warned against those who still carried out violent activities in the towns of Western Equatoria state.
(ST)