By Lodu William Odiya
Civil society activist and executive director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO), Edmund Yakani, described the killing of the commissioner of Kapoeta East County as a politically motivated incident.
He urged South Sudanese not to blame communities or inflame tensions along the Eastern Equatoria and Greater Pibor border.
Yakani said communities living along the border, including the Jie, Murle, and Toposa, have coexisted peacefully for many years and should not be dragged into political disputes.
“With the best of my knowledge, this incident is politically motivated,” Yakani said.
“Please don’t politicise this issue to the level that we create tension among our communities. The communities of Jie, Murle, and Toposa have lived peacefully together for a long time,” he added.
He questioned the circumstances surrounding the mission that led to the commissioner’s death, saying the lack of clear communication has raised serious concerns that require answers from political leaders.
Yakani argued that if the disagreement revolves around the disputed Kasengor area or internal administrative boundaries, it should be addressed through established legal and political mechanisms rather than military action.
“If this is a boundary dispute, it has its own mechanisms for resolution. It cannot be resolved through military means,” he said.
The CEPO executive director called on the governor of Eastern Equatoria State and the chief administrator of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident, saying stronger communication between the two leaders could help prevent further loss of life and ease tensions.
He also appealed to the Council of States to summon the concerned leaders to provide explanations before lawmakers, while urging relevant ministries to investigate what he described as competition over natural resources.
According to Yakani, the incident appears to be driven by political competition among elites seeking control over resources rather than genuine disputes between local communities.
“My reliable sources indicate that this is resource-driven and politically motivated. Political elites should not put communities at risk because of competition over resources,” he said.
Yakani condemned the killing of the commissioner but cautioned against restricting movement or disrupting relations among border communities, noting that the area already faces poor infrastructure and limited services.
He further compared the incident to previous conflicts in other parts of the country, where disputes over fishing grounds, wetlands, and oil-producing areas have escalated into violence.
Calling for responsible leadership, Yakani urged national institutions, including Parliament and the Council of States, to intervene before the situation deteriorates further.
“We have seen honourable members from the affected areas calling for a peaceful solution,” he said.
“Leaders must take responsibility and ensure that this matter is resolved peacefully instead of allowing communities to suffer,” Yakani added.