By Emmanuel Mandella

Western Equatoria State Deputy Governor, Daniel Badagbu has expressed optimism over the settlement of violence in Tombura.

Badagbu said he was astonished by the reception of the community upon his arrival in Tombura on Monday.

He noted the community’s resilience in the face of past conflicts and a path forward guided by grassroots reconciliation efforts.

Badagbu traveled to Tombura County as part of the state peace tour to find out the root cause of the unrest in greater Tombura.

“Tombura was relatively calm. I was deeply moved by the reception from women, children, and others who came out to welcome me along the road. Their vulnerability was evident, and yet their songs of hope, expressing faith that our presence could bring peace,” he said.

 “The meeting went well, giving me valuable insight into the current security situation,” Badagbu stated.

Central to the visit were the efforts to promote dialogue between the Azande and Balanda communities who have experienced tension in recent years.

Badagbu outlined a strategy involving community representatives. “We sent these representatives to consult with their respective groups ahead of my planned meeting with them. The aim is to ensure peaceful resolutions and hand over the politicians to their communities.”

He emphasized that sustainable peace requires solutions crafted locally and called on the leaders to come together to extinguish the flames of conflict in Tombura.

Meanwhile, Elia Usini Donato said the initiative to address the conflict is an entirely state-led initiative headed by Governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba and his Deputy.

“This is the state’s own initiative, not from Juba, not from America. It was the governor and deputy governor who thought it wise to form a committee that would consult the Azande and Balanda communities directly,” Usini said.

Also, he stressed the importance of the involvement of political leaders, church officials, civil society, and local communities.

“UNMISS supported with transport, enabling us to arrive safely and begin our work. Upon our arrival, we found Tombura peaceful, with nothing bad happening,” Usini added.

Early this week, the government of Western Equatoria State formed a high-level peace mission, led by the Deputy Governor Daniel Badagbu, to address the escalating violence in Tombura County.

The Deputy Governor stated that the committee, composed of Tombura politicians from both the Balanda and Azande communities, will serve not just the mediation, but also directly intervene and engage the communities to stop the conflict.

The peace delegation comprises representatives from political groups such as the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in opposition (SPLM-IO), Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in government (SPLM-IG), South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), and the Other Political Parties (OPP), as well as local leaders from Ezo, Nagero, and Tombura counties.