Adil, Gaaniko agree to boost peace in states
The Governor of Central Equatoria State, Emmanuel Adil Anthony, and the Deputy Governor of Western Equatoria State Kennedy Gaaniko have pledged to bolster peaceful coexistence in the two states to advance mutual political interests and economic development.
This came after the two leaders met at the Central Equatoria State government secretariat on Friday.
“The meeting centered on the working relationship between the two sisterly States along their common borders and efforts of enhancing peaceful coexistence with the various communities,” the statement from the office of the governor, Central Equatoria State said.
Gaaniko who doubles as Western Equatoria State SPLM Interim Chairperson said the two states would exert efforts to ensure total calm at their borders.
He said Tombura and some areas in Central Equatoria State would be “calm and stable.”
Gaaniko expressed his government’s commitment to maintaining frequent high-level exchange visits, increasing political mutual interest, expanding cooperation and coordination in various fields along their common borders.
The two leaders exchanged views on SPLM activities in their respective states ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Insecurity
Central Equatoria State has been reporting attacks by NAS on civilians, Tombura, Western Equatoria State had been ravaged with conflict which had led to the loss of lives and displacement of civilians.
Last week, two men were reported missing in Mabia area after they left Tombura town heading for Yangiri while riding on a motorbike to inspect the drilling of a borehole. The missing men were identified as Opoya Joseph, Ugandan and Gaaniko Zamba, a South Sudanese.
The commissioner of Tombura County Mathew Mabenge told Eye Radio they had a team from the security to search for the two men.
“At around 12:21 pm, the contractor, who is a foreigner from Uganda by name Opoya Joseph, left Tambura for Yangiri for maintenance in Yangiri. Then from there he disappeared up to this moment we don’t see him,” Mabenge said.
“We have managed to send security apparatus at least to find his whereabouts but we are still assessing to find where he has gone whether they have killed him or not but we are still in process. They were two, Opoya Joseph and Gaaniko Zamba.”
A Ugandan living in Western Equatoria State called for his colleague to be traced and returned to his hardware shop.
“He is called Opoya Joseph, he is a Ugandan. He has a hardware shop in Yambio, and also has his lorry dealing with construction,” he said.
“‘He always gets work from World Vision. What we need is only our person back. Any kind of power, any kind of solution we need from the government or from any who is capable. What we need is our person alive.”
