YAMBIO — Western Equatoria State Governor Badagbu Daniel Rimbasa has urged young people in the state not to allow politicians to exploit them to spread hate speech, incite violence, or promote divisive propaganda online.
Addressing media at a press conference on Tuesday in Yambio, Governor Badagbu called on youth to use social media responsibly and avoid sharing content that could provoke violence, spread misinformation, or target individuals and communities.
“I call upon all political actors to desist from inciting our youth to misuse social media for hate speech and for propaganda,” he said.
Badagbu cautioned politicians against paying young people to insult or attack their opponents and leaders on social media.
“Our youth should be agents of peace and development, not tools for division. My call to action to our citizens: I urge you to maintain peace, reject rumors that you hear, and cooperate with security organs and authorities wherever you are,” he said.
He urged chiefs and local leaders to disregard any instructions from former Governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba that discourage them from cooperating with the state government.
“Because some of you have been lied to, so you should not cooperate with the government. According to the meeting that was held by Fututyo Karaba, where he has instructed some of the civilians and chiefs not to cooperate with the government,” he said.
“Those who are in the small area where these people are hiding. Please don’t listen to this propaganda. Time for war is over, and it is now time for peace,” he said.
Badagbu called on SPLA-IO forces operating around Tombura and Nagero to end hostilities and embrace integration and dialogue.
“To our youth, stop allowing yourselves to be misused for political propaganda on social media. Use your energy to build, to farm, to study, and to innovate,” he said.
He urged fellow politicians and elites to compete on ideas and development rather than promote division and confusion that could destabilize the state.
“To political leaders and the elite, let us put Western Equatorial State first. Let us compete on ideas for development, not on division and the confusion of our citizenry,” he said.
“To our diaspora and to our diaspora community, I hear you. Time has come for you to come home, to do something, to own your land, and to make sure you develop nationalism and also what we call technology or skills transfer.”
He added that “what you have learned abroad, please also bring it to your own people so that we can see development going here, and you must not fear what people tell you—that when you come here things will happen to you—is not true; it is a lie.”
