Western Equatoria State Traditional Leaders Conference Opens
(Gurtong reports)
(Yambio, Thursday March 27, 2008)
The long awaited Western Equatoria State's Traditional Leaders Conference opened
yesterday afternoon here in Yambio, capital of Western Equatoria State. The
key objective is to form a council of traditional leaders in the state, thus
bringing the number of like councils formed so far in South Sudan to four. The
first three are in Eastern Equatoria State, Central Equatoria State and Lakes
State in greater Bhar el Gazal.
Among the more than 100 delegates from the counties and Payams of Western Equatoria State are 9 paramount chiefs and 53 chiefs of various ranks.
There were also 3 paramount chiefs from the above three South Sudan states
which already have traditional leaders councils. Eastern Equatoria is represented
by the chair of the council there, Paramount Chief Madelena Tito, while Central
Equatoria is represented by their chair, Paramount Chief Dennis Daramolo. The
third state, Lakes, is represented by Paramount Chief Dut Malwal Arop.
The role of the three paramount chiefs is to encourage and advise Western Equatoria
chiefs and traditional leaders in how to go about forming their council.
Of the conference, Paramount Chief, Wilson Hassen of Yambio, welcomed the guests
and declared the occasion "the greatest day in Western Equatoria, now that
we will be able to form our own council."
In an exclusive interview, Wilson Hassen revealed to Gurtong that he had been
heading the organisation of chiefs and traditional leaders in the state in an
unofficial capacity but now believes that they will form a council and elect
a chair person.
In his opening address, Acting Governor of Western Equatoria, Mr Joseph Paciko
Ngere warmly welcomed the guests and challenged the chiefs and traditional leaders
of the state to live up to the responsibility of self-respect and lead a life
that is exemplary to the people they lead.
Mr Paciko called on the traditional leaders to face the current challenges
of insecurity, food production, tax collection and control of the youths, whom
he said are adopting disruptive foreign cultures, have become layabouts in towns
and cities and feeding off employed relatives and friends while productive land
lies in waste.
The Acting Governor further called upon the chiefs and traditional leaders
to face up to new challenges, such as the census scheduled for next month and
general elections scheduled for next year.
The conference, organised by a local South Sudanese NGO, Policy, Advocacy and
Strategic Studies (PASS), funded by the Federal Government of Switzerland and
supported by the United States Institute for Peace (USIP), was represented by
high-level officials from the three organisations.
Opening prayers were led by Canon Samuel and closed with prayers led by His
Lordship Bishop Joseph Gassi
The conference eventually got down to discussing the nitty-gritty issues that
brought them to Yambio. The deliberations will continue through Friday and Saturday,
during which time they will be able to meet for the first time their lady governor,
Ms Jemma Kumba, who is stepping into the large shoes of the late and long-time
governor of the state, Col Samuel Abujohn K
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