Fresh Leadership Sets the Tone
Governor James Al Taib Berapai closed a two-day retreat with county commissioners in Yambio, marking his first major act since taking office. The forum sought to align state and local agendas after months of political flux in Western Equatoria.
Commissioners Outline Local Priorities
Eight of the ten commissioners attended; one was in Juba for treatment, another reportedly defected. Their briefings covered roads, revenue, and cross-border trade, but security dominated every report, according to officials inside the closed-door sessions.
“We reviewed reports and discussed ways to work together for the good of our people,” Al Taib said, insisting that state directives would respect county autonomy while improving coordination.
Security and Reconciliation Messages
Commissioner Zelipha Justin Dawa described the governor’s message as a clear mandate to ‘relay peace to every boma’ and carry President Salva Kiir’s appeal that armed youth lay down weapons and return home.
Observers say the emphasis on reconciliation echoes national efforts to cement the 2018 peace pact, but local leaders must still navigate sporadic cattle-raiding and the legacy of past militias.
Regional Significance for Greater Equatoria
Stability in Western Equatoria would bolster food supply corridors toward the Democratic Republic of Congo, analysts note, adding regional weight to the governor’s pledge that ‘peace and security remain top priorities’.