Speaking during President Kiir’s visit to Kuajok on Saturday as part of his tour of the Greater Bahr el Ghazal region, Agoth outlined the key obstacles confronting his administration and presented a series of recommendations aimed at improving security and economic development.
The governor said his administration remains committed to transforming Warrap into a centre for culture, education, tourism, hospitality, and investment despite the challenges.
“In a period of relative peace and stability, my government aims to transition Warrap State into a vibrant hub for culture, education, hospitality, tourism, construction, and real estate investment,” Agoth said.
However, he noted that the state continues to grapple with widespread poverty, mental health concerns, and security challenges, including delays in deploying sufficient forces to implement the ongoing state of emergency and civilian disarmament exercise.
“The state government continues to face challenges such as the high rate of poverty and mental health-related issues across our communities. There has also been a delay in the deployment of enough forces to effectively implement the state of emergency and disarmament exercise during the remaining period of the emergency,” he said.
Agoth attributed much of the poverty in Warrap to recurring intercommunal violence, which he said has claimed innocent lives, displaced families, and undermined economic opportunities.
Despite the difficulties, the governor highlighted several achievements by his administration, including the rehabilitation of roads linking Tonj South and Tonj East counties. He said the projects were implemented in partnership with the state government and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
To address the state’s challenges, Agoth called on the national government to support the completion of civilian disarmament, expand security road infrastructure across Warrap’s six counties, and invest in large-scale agricultural projects aimed at boosting food production and cash crop cultivation.
President Kiir, in his address, thanked residents for the warm reception accorded to him in Kuajok, describing the town as his home area. He assured the public that his government was working to improve service delivery and address existing development gaps.
The president encouraged citizens to embrace farming and reduce dependence on humanitarian aid.
He also reiterated that preparations for elections were underway and urged citizens to take the electoral process seriously.
Kuajok was the second stop on Kiir’s tour of the Greater Bahr el Ghazal region. The president is expected to continue his visit to Northern Bahr el Ghazal State in the coming days, according to his protocol team.
The visit provided governors from Western Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap states with an opportunity to present their concerns directly to the president, with residents now waiting to see how the national government responds to the issues raised.
