By Innocent Bidal Emmanuel
The Speakers of the Central and Western Equatoria State Legislative Assemblies have pledged to deepen parliamentary cooperation and strengthen joint efforts to promote peace, unity and peaceful coexistence between communities as South Sudan moves towards key national processes.
In a release seen by the No. 1 Citizen Daily English Newspaper on Tuesday, their discussions centered on strengthening institutional relations, sharing legislative experience, expanding capacity-building programs, and leveraging the two Assemblies as platforms for dialogue, accountability, and grassroots peacebuilding.
The commitment was made in Juba during a high-level meeting between Rt. Taban Emmanuel Baya, Speaker of the Central Equatoria State Legislative Assembly, and Rt. Hon. Anna Tuna Richard, Speaker of the Western Equatoria State Legislative Assembly.
“I am here in the spirit of cooperation. As speakers, we have similar responsibilities. Hence, let us work together to ensure our people live in peaceful coexistence,” Speaker Anna Tuna said in the statement.
She urged the Central Equatoria State Legislative Assembly to engage with the Mundari community and relevant stakeholders to strengthen peaceful coexistence, while emphasising the longstanding social and cultural bonds between the people of the two sisterly states.
Speaker Taban Emmanuel Baya described the visit as “a sign of unity and brotherhood,” stressing the critical role of State Legislative Assemblies in law-making, oversight, civic education, and peacebuilding.
The two speakers also pledged support for the establishment of the Speakers’ Forum and agreed to pursue exchange visits and capacity-building programs for members and staff of both assemblies.
They further committed to supporting peaceful, democratic, and secure elections through civic education, while calling on citizens to embrace peace, tolerance, unity, and peaceful coexistence ahead of forthcoming national processes.
“The speakers underscored the importance of women’s participation in leadership and peacebuilding, while encouraging young people to take an active role in governance and nation-building,” the statement continued.
The engagement concluded with a tour of the Central Equatoria State Legislative Assembly Chambers.
The meeting marks a renewed push for closer legislative cooperation between Central and Western Equatoria, with both speakers placing peace, unity, accountable governance, and democratic participation at the centre of their shared agenda.