As Central Equatoria struggles with a horrific wave of violence, State Governor Rabi Mujung Emmanuel appeal directly to citizens to play their part and restore peace.
Speaking to a congregation at Emmanuel’s Parish in Juba on Sunday, Governor Mujung condemned brutal acts that have shaken the state and affirmed government’s commitment to tackling the crisis head-on.
However, he stressed that official efforts alone are not enough.
“The government is doing its part to restore peace and security, but as good citizens, you should also do yours,” he urged.
He urged parents to guide their children away from crime and called on communities to actively discourage lawlessness.
The governor’s plea comes just two months into his tenure, an appointment made by President Salva Kiir in June with a clear and urgent mandate to combat rising insecurity, restore stability, and resolve the festering land disputes affecting the state.
Mujung further highlighted the urgent need for coordinated efforts to address the deadly challenges posed by armed herders.
However, the governor faces a monumental task. The region’s security is being torn apart by a complex web of local armed groups, cross-border conflicts, and rampant crime.
The violence has included road ambushes, abductions, sexual violence, and mass displacement, leaving a track of destruction and fear.
This was evident just four days into his term, when armed men stormed Morobo County Hospital, looting medical supplies, robbing staff, and destroying two ambulances.
The violence hit closer to home in Juba’s Shirkat neighborhood, where a young woman was horrifically raped by suspected gang members who then circulated the video of the assault on social media, sparking widespread outrage.
In his address, Mujung also reminded the public that an amnesty for holdout groups, declared by the President, remains in effect and encouraged local initiatives to bring them into the peace process.
His call for peace was echoed from the pulpit by the former Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church of South Sudan, His Grace Daniel Deng Bul.
Delivering the day’s sermon, the respected church leader underscored the church’s vital role in peace-building and called for unity.
“Peace is the only way to honor those who died for this country,” the Archbishop affirmed,
