Civil society leader Edmond Yakani has urged the leadership of Western Equatoria State to focus on peace, security, and transparency in managing state affairs, stressing that citizens deserve service-centered governance.
Welcoming the arrival of the Governor and Deputy Governor to Yambio, Yakani commended their presence in the state capital as a positive step toward demonstrating effective leadership on the ground.
He underscored that the state’s fragile political and security situation requires urgent attention, particularly in strengthening social cohesion and overcoming political and ethnic divides.
“What is required is a political leadership that puts safety, protection, and security as a priority,” Yakani said, urging the two leaders to work in harmony and avoid the frictions that have previously hindered effective governance in Western Equatoria.
Western Equatoria, particularly the greater Tombura, descended into deadly violence since 2021, claiming dozens lives and displaced hundreds of thousand now in disparate need of humanitarian assistance. Despite the severity, insecurity persists with repeated inter-communal clashes exerting more suffering unable to endure by women, children and elderly people.
He also appealed for a joint field visit to Tombura, noting that the community there does not need humanitarian aid but rather stability and protection to farm and sustain themselves.
Highlighting accountability, Yakani called on the state leadership to ensure transparent use of limited revenues for the benefit of citizens while fostering close collaboration with development partners. He stressed that civil society should be given the space to freely operate, as they play a vital role in complementing government efforts.
