By Philip Basa

The Azande Supreme Welfare organization has rejected a call by the Balanda Community for the creation of Tombura as an administrative area.

The group, led by Clement Juma, submitted their petition letter of objection to the council of state.

In his statement, Juma said the Balanda and Azande people have lived together since 19th century, saying the recent political decisions have been motivated to divide the people of Western Equatoria State.

“I call on the people of Western Equatoria to remain united. We have ten counties, and the people who are living in Western are more than Azande and Balanda,” he said.

 There are more than nine tribes who are living there. For we condemned that decision.”

Mr. Juma added that for the Balanda community to have an administrative area means they will be cut off from Azande, something he said will not happen.

 He admitted that the communities were living peacefully before the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity in 2021.

According to him, the problem of Western Equatoria started in 2021 when the government was trying to implement the revitalized peace agreement signed in 2018 when Western Equatoria State was given to the SPLM-IO, they blamed former governor Alfred Futuyo for creating all these conflicts between the two communities.

“We share the same Tombura County with Balanda and their points of calling for administrative area… we have to come together and solve our problem through dialogue,” Mr.  Juma said.

“We will have nowhere to leave regardless of the political organization that are motivated by the politicians to divide people according to their tribes,” he stated.

Sarah Nene, A member of the council of state who received the petition on behalf of the right honorable speaker, proposed for dialogue between the Azande and Balanda communities.

She added that the only means to bring everlasting peace to the people in Western Equatoria State, particularly in Tombura, is a dialogue.

The lawmaker noted that the conflict in Western Equatoria State has now taken more than four years.

She said the Council of State would study the concerns and submit their recommendation to the president.

However, Nene asserted that the best way is to bring the two communities for a dialogue

“The recent political organization should not be a problem for the people of Western Equatoria to divide them. We are calling on the army opposition to denounce violence,” Nene said.