Activist lauds Council of States for sending facts-finding team to Western Equatoria

JUBA – A prominent activist has lauded South Sudan’s transitional Council of States for sending a facts-finding team to gather information about the ongoing political crisis in Western Equatoria State where the deputy governor has boycotted the government over alleged monopoly by the governor.

Last month, deputy governor Kennedy Ganiko led a team of senior government officials in boycotting the government of Gen. Alfred Futuyo for allegedly acting single-handedly on state affairs and for also involvement in corrupt practices.

The Council of States then dispatched a team of its members to gather facts regarding the disagreement which has already affected the functioning of the government as senior government officials including the deputy governor have not been in their offices since.

In a statement, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) welcomed the decision of the Council of States to dispatch the team and said it is a demonstration of political will from the council of states to resolve disputes between different political actors.

“CEPO strongly welcomed and appreciates the positive response of the council of states leadership by sending a committee to Western Equatoria State to find out facts around the recent built political frictions between the state Governor and his Deputy,” the CEPO statement said.

“The field visit to the two state leaders on the ground was demonstration of political commitment for handling state political disputes,” the statement added.

Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPO said political disagreement between the party signatories to the revitalized peace agreement are undermining the implementation process of the revitalized peace agreement.

“The political frictions among the state political leadership are undermining the spirit of implementing the peace agreement (R-ARCSS). We wish the committee of the Council of States acts transparently and genuinely without form of favor in resolving the state leaders’ frictions over control of decisions and resources,” Yakani said.

“It is good now that the council of states formed committees on handling the state political frictions are acting. But the committee for unity state is silent which updating the public through media like what the investigation committee of Western Equatoria State is doing nowadays,” the activist stressed.

The watchdog further urged the Council of States leadership “to take pro-actively engage in handling political frictions among the leaders and the communities.”