By Alan Clement
Eastern Equatoria Governor Louis Lobong held a grassroots security meeting with the Machi community in Katiko Payam.
The meeting followed the recent attack by armed criminals in Kapoeta Town.
According to the statement the meeting is aimed at restoring peace in Greater Kapoeta.
While speaking at a grassroots security sensitization meeting in Katiko Payam on Sunday, Lobong urged locals to resist supporting armed groups that “seek to import war” into the state warning that looting and violence would only backfire on the communities themselves.
“I appeal to you to protect your children from being mobilized into meaningless armed groups. Looting and violence will not bring progress but only suffering to our people,” the Governor was quoted as saying according to the governor’s press unit.
The Governor, cautioned against attacks on businesses in Kapoeta, stressing that most shops belong to Toposa community members. “When you loot and destroy shops, you are destroying the livelihoods of your own brothers and sisters, and you are destroying the infrastructure of your own town,” Lobong added.
In a show of solidarity, Machi youth, elders, and women publicly distanced themselves from the perpetrators, blaming some politicians for attempting to lure local youth into illegal activities. “Machi stands for peace, not crime. We will cooperate fully with security forces to identify criminals and report suspicious activities in our villages,” a community representative said in a statement on behalf of the youth and elders.
Community leaders pledged full cooperation with government forces, vowing to identify criminal hideouts and accompany security teams in future operations. “We will single out any wrongdoers, monitor abnormal movements, and report suspicious activities,” the governor’s press unit quoted one elder.
Governor Lobong’s appeal extended to neighboring Toposa communities, urging restraint and unity to prevent further destabilization. The Machi community’s commitment marks a significant step in local peacebuilding efforts, reinforcing the role of civic engagement in countering insecurity.
As Eastern Equatoria grapples with rising tensions, the Machi community’s stance offers a model for grassroots collaboration in safeguarding lives, livelihoods, and regional stability.