By James Innocent
The Commissioner of Yei River County, Emmanuel Taban Seme, officially opened the County Transitional Legislative Council on March 6, 2026, emphasizing the need for peace, unity, and development in the county.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, the commissioner expressed gratitude to members of the council, religious leaders, chiefs, elders, development partners, women and youth representatives, and other distinguished guests who attended the event. He noted that although the council had been expected to open earlier, unavoidable circumstances delayed the inauguration until now.
Seme acknowledged the challenges faced by residents of Yei River County in recent years, particularly insecurity and conflicts that have displaced many families from their homes across several payams. He said the violence has caused destruction of lives and property and forced many people to live without essential services such as healthcare, education, and clean drinking water.
The commissioner appreciated the efforts of county departments, development partners, and religious leaders who have continued working for peace and service delivery despite the challenges. He stressed that cooperation among leaders, institutions, and communities remains essential in rebuilding stability and improving livelihoods.
During his address, the commissioner outlined key priorities of his administration, beginning with strengthening security across the county.
He pledged to work closely with security agencies, youth groups, church leaders, traditional authorities, and other stakeholders to restore peace. Measures to be implemented include holding regular security meetings to review the situation, introducing consistent police patrols within the town, and removing unnecessary roadblocks to allow smoother movement along roads connecting Yei to other areas.
He also highlighted the importance of mobilizing peace partners to support dialogue initiatives and improving civil–military relations. Community policing, led by chiefs at the village level, will also be encouraged to improve reporting of security incidents and ensure timely response to threats.
The commissioner further emphasized the need to strengthen unity among the people of Yei River County. He called on political leaders from various parties who are signatories to the 2018 peace agreement to work together to promote social cohesion. Activities such as symposiums, radio talk shows, rallies, and conferences will be organized to encourage dialogue and cooperation among communities.
According to Seme, collaboration with community leaders will also help build unity through inter-payam engagements, cultural events, and sports activities. He added that the county administration will promote fairness in recruitment within the county workforce to ensure representation of different communities, as well as equitable distribution of resources and development opportunities.
The commissioner also identified agriculture as a key pillar for economic growth and food security in Yei River County. He said the county government will work with partners and stakeholders to strengthen the agriculture department through capacity building and improved extension services to farmers.
Plans include providing farmers with quality seeds and farm inputs, offering training across payams and bomas, and encouraging the formation of farmers’ cooperative societies and agricultural unions.
These initiatives are expected to enhance productivity and create better market opportunities for local farmers.
The county administration will also review taxes on agricultural products to help reduce costs for farmers and organize agricultural trade shows to connect farmers with markets and potential investors. Hon. Seme further encouraged the adoption of mechanized farming by providing access to tractors at subsidized prices.
In addition, the commissioner called for value addition to agricultural products within Yei so that goods can be processed locally before being sold to external markets. He also encouraged the cultivation of cash crops such as coffee and cocoa as alternatives to tobacco production.
To support agricultural activities, the county leadership plans to improve road networks to enable farmers to transport their produce more easily to markets. Environmental conservation will also be promoted through tree planting initiatives in every payam and boma, as well as responsible management of natural resources including forests, land, rivers, and other resources that sustain livelihoods.
Seme concluded by calling on all residents of Yei River County to work together with the government to promote peace, unity, and development for the benefit of present and future generations.
The chairman of chamber and commerce Lwate Justin Raphael aplaudes authorities for officially opening the council which will improve accountability.