Governor Berapai’s Peace Appeal
Standing in his Juba residence on 30 August 2025, Western Equatoria State governor James Altaib Berapai delivered a heartfelt plea to rebels and militias, urging them to lay down weapons and seek solutions through dialogue rather than further bloodshed.
His message, broadcast on local radio, stressed readiness to meet combatants “day and night” to understand the anger that drove them to arms and craft, in his words, “an endless solution” for lasting harmony.
Understanding the Grievances
Western Equatoria has endured targeted killings, highway ambushes and sporadic clashes between government troops and opposition factions, leaving traders fearful and farmers unable to access fields at critical planting periods.
Local civil-society actors say frustrations over land rights, delayed integration of forces and limited economic prospects fuel resentment, especially among youth who perceive few alternatives to the gun.
Security Stakes for Communities
Humanitarian agencies report that displacement within Tombura, Yambio and surrounding counties has disrupted schooling and restricted access to health clinics, compounding vulnerability to malaria and measles outbreaks.
Market closures following road attacks have pushed food prices upward, with a 50-kilogramme bag of sorghum reportedly doubling since early 2024, according to traders’ unions in Nzara.
Pathways to Negotiation
Berapai emphasised inclusivity, inviting “sons and daughters” of the state to arrive unarmed and table demands ranging from administrative reforms to security guarantees.
Observers view the governor’s overture as consistent with provisions of South Sudan’s revitalised peace agreement, which encourages state-level dialogue ahead of the 2024 national elections.
Religious leaders, including Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, have offered to mediate, citing successful church-led reconciliations in previous Yambio conflicts.
Yet analysts caution that without prompt rehabilitation programmes and credible security arrangements, any ceasefire may falter, repeating cycles witnessed in 2020 and 2022.
Looking Ahead to Sustained Calm
The governor’s office has scheduled preliminary consultations in Yambio for mid-September, signalling the administration’s intent to translate rhetoric into structured talks.
If armed actors respond, Western Equatoria could witness its first provincial-level security compact in nearly a decade, a milestone many residents describe as long overdue.