Cabinet Kick-off in Yambio
Western Equatoria State’s newly appointed cabinet met for the first time in Yambio, chaired by Governor James Al Taib Berapai.
Six ministers, sworn in hours earlier, used the sitting to outline an agenda intended to shape the administration’s first 100 days.
Security Restoration Tops Priorities
Minister of Cabinet Affairs John Bariyona Furula said the team placed security at the centre, vowing joint action with security agencies and local leaders to curb recurring violence.
A senior official, requesting anonymity, branded the approach ‘results-driven’ and predicted tangible impact on stability across rural counties by year’s end.
Governance and Transparency Drive
Beyond security, the cabinet pledged sharper governance tools, including stricter oversight of public funds and a symbolic dress code that will see ministers wear identical official suits.
Governor Al Taib told colleagues that every franc must ‘serve the people’ and argued that visible discipline fosters confidence among citizens and international partners.
Civil Society Warns on Tambura Attacks
Civil society advocate Edmond Yakani applauded the cabinet’s tone yet warned that Tambura County remains fragile after recent clashes that allegedly involved weapons seized from UN peacekeepers.
Yakani said investigators will reveal suspects’ names on 13 September, stressing that assaults on peacekeepers breach international norms and require swift, transparent prosecution in conjunction with state authorities.