By Lodu William Odiya
The Minister of Culture, Museums, and National Heritage, Sarah Nyanath Elijah Yong, held a meeting with the Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports of Eastern Equatoria State, Akileo Peter Mboya, to discuss ways of strengthening cooperation, communication, and coordination between the National Ministry and the Eastern Equatoria State Government.
Akileo Peter Mboya is the current State Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports for Eastern Equatoria.
In a statement by the Ministry’s press unit, during the meeting, Nyanath emphasised the importance of closer collaboration between the two levels of government, particularly in the areas of culture, heritage preservation, and the promotion of historical sites across Eastern Equatoria State.
“The Minister encouraged the State Ministry to continue promoting, preserving, and protecting the state’s cultural and historical sites, including the memorial site associated with the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior’s helicopter crash near New Site, as well as other important heritage locations in the state,” the statement read.
Nyanath also encouraged the State Ministry to continue organising and supporting cultural festivals at the state level as a means of celebrating cultural diversity, promoting national unity, and preserving South Sudan’s cultural heritage.
She further stressed the need for cultural groups to be properly registered at the national level to support improved organisation, discipline and meaningful engagement with the ministry. The State Ministry was also encouraged to mobilise the participation of counties, payams, and bomas in cultural activities and programs.
“The National Minister requested the State Ministry to share available cultural databases and relevant information on cultural groups and heritage sites in Eastern Equatoria State. The information will support documentation, planning, coordination, and the development of national cultural programs,” the statement continued.
Regarding the Boma Badingilo Migratory Landscape, Sarah requested the State Ministry to provide geographical coordinates for areas within Eastern Equatoria State that fall within, border, or are otherwise relevant to the heritage landscape.
This information would support documentation, coordination, and the continued protection and management of the heritage landscape, which includes Boma and Badingilo national parks and sustains one of the world’s largest terrestrial mammal migrations.
The meeting reaffirmed the importance of continued cooperation between the National Ministry and the Eastern Equatoria State Government to protect South Sudan’s cultural heritage, increase cultural participation, and ensure effective coordination between national and state institutions.