By Jacob Onuha Nelson
The Ifwotu community have called on the governor of Eastern Equatoria State (EES), Louis Lobong Lojore, to enhance security in the area.
According to statement from the governor’s press unit, the community representatives made the call during a meeting with the governor in Ifwotu Payam on Friday.
This call followed a recent attack in Torit, which left a top police officer dead with others injured.
The representatives appealed to the governor to strengthen security measures in the payam.
According to the governor’s office, the meeting was intended to discuss avenues meant to de-escalate the situation.
It was aimed at ensuring stable security to protect the lives of residents and the displaced people in the area.
The statement further appealed to the state government to stabilize the security measures to safeguard the civilians in the community.
“The community urged the State Government to enhance security measures to safeguard civilians, prevent further disturbances, and restore normalcy in the area,” the statement read in part.
He called upon the community to continue to cooperate and coordinate closely with the government and security forces in order to fully restore peace.
The community representatives, according to the statement, urged the members of the Sudan People Liberation Movement/Army in opposition forces (SPLM/A–IO) to cease hostilities.
The community reiterated the call on leaders from both the government and the opposition to resolve the political grievances through dialogue rather than confrontations.
On his part during the meeting in Ifwotu Payam, Governor Lobong reiterated government commitments to ensure peace and stability in the country.
The governor urged the opposition armed groups to cease hostilities and join the government in the implementation of the peace agreement.
“The governor further reiterated his call on the SPLM-IO forces destabilizing the peace of Eastern Equatoria State to resolve political grievances through peaceful dialogue at the negotiating table rather than resorting to violence,” it stated.
The governor appealed to all the families within the community who fled their homes to return back to their homesteads and safeguard their properties as stability returns to normalcy.
However, earlier this month, EES has been experiencing armed clashes between government forces (SSPDF) and the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), as well as persistent inter-communal violence.