By James Chatim

The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has said some government officials are intentionally fueling communal violence to maintain their seats in power.

Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPO said in a statement to the media on Saturday that some high-profile government officials holding constitutional positions are deliberately orchestrating deadly communal violence to continue staying in their positions.

Yakani threatened to expose the names of government officials with negative attitudes, who are spearheading the activities and appealed to the presidency to hold them accountable.

Yakani said some of the officials are serving in security institutions.

“I would like to speak to the presidency with regards to negative attitudes on some politicians. Some of them are state governors, state ministers, advisors and members of our security institutions who are pro-violence among our communities or who like to fuel deadly violence among our communities or who want to obstruct any amicable solution for resolving tensions among our communities. Your excellency presidency, moment will come that we will name them to you and we hope that you will act once we go naming them,” said Yakani.

“Even if it means that it costs our life because of naming those who are fueling violence or who are obstructing strategies for resolving violence or who want to create violence, we will be ready to sacrifice our life for that cost. Your excellency president, most of the deadly communal violence in our communities, among our communities, are politically motivated by politicians who are holding political seat either at the state level, at county level, or at national level, or within the security institutions. We are tired of their actions of fueling violence among our communities or obstructing resolutions of disputes.”

“We have seen now emerging tension is coming in the side of Magwi County and last time we have seen how deadly the situation of Magwi is. I would like to appeal to your excellency president that the situation of Magwi require your urgent attention before it goes violence and before it obstructs or destroy Juba-Nimule Road or make our communities being herders or pastoralists to clash in a deadly manner. The situation in Jonglei state, we have seen also how it’s going on the side of Gumruk.”

Yakani said the situation at the Tombura and Bazia had caused suffering among the people, and called for action from state authorities.