EES Government to meet in Torit to address insecurity, set 2026 aAgenda
By Correspondent
The government of Eastern Equatoria State announced it will hold a planning meeting in the state capital, Torit, to develop an action plan for 2026 following recent waves of insecurity.
According to the state’s Minister of Information and Communication, Elijah John Alhaji, the meeting will bring together state ministers, commissioners, mayors, and other representatives.
The minister said, “The meeting is about us going to a forum for the state leadership to agree on the state’s priorities for this year. So, considering the current situation we are in, we need to identify some key priorities to guide our operations throughout the year.”
They will work on priorities aimed at addressing insecurity caused by armed groups and other challenges facing the state.
Minister Alhaji said the forum will agree on key priorities to guide the state government’s operations throughout the year.
“In Torit on Thursday, we will meet with the commissioners, mayors, all the state ministers, and all the officials,” he said.
In November last year, fighting erupted in the Ifwotu payam area, southwest of Torit town, between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and a combined force of the rebel National Salvation Front (NAS) and the SPLA-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO), which led to massive displacement of civilians on the area.
A number of families have sought refuge at the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Torit.
To stem insecurity in the area, the state government has been instituting various measure to stabilise the region.
In June 2024, the mayor of Torit issued a local decree suspending nightlife until the security situation is normalised.
The ban came amid growing criminal activities in the town, to avert the terror that had been meted on citizens in the area.
“The music is bringing all the gang groups from all the corners of the town together. When they hear the music, they all come together and create problems in the town,” Mustafa Albino Zacharia was quoted as saying.
On May 26, 2024, gangs fought, leaving two dead. Authorities later arrested five suspects linked to the incident.
