Traditional authority building opened in Lakes state, S.Sudan
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By Manyang Mayom
June 8, 2011 (RUMBEK) - The government of Lakes state in collaboration
with a US aid organisation officially opened the Council of
Traditional Authority Leaders (COTAL) in the state capital, Rumbek, on
Wednesday
JPEG - 106.3 kb
US ambassador, GoSS representative and Lakes state Governor, right to
left, open traditional authority building in Rumbek, Lakes state,
South Sudan (ST)
The opening ceremony was attended by government officials from the
state, both executive and lawmakers, as well representatives from
Government of South Sudan (GoSS) including the Ministry of Peace and
Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) Implementation, the Director of
Conflict Mitigation and the US Ambassador and various directors from
the states and various NGOs.
The CPA ended more than two decades of civil war between north and
South Sudan. A stipulation of the signing was the opportunity for the
South Sudanese to vote in a plebiscite. They voted in favor of
secession in January, which will be implemented in the formation of
the Republic of South Sudan on 9 July.
Speaking during the opening, the deputy mission director for USAID
Sudan, Susan Fine said, “I would like to add my acknowledgment and
recognition of the strong partnership between USAID and the people of
Lakes state. USAID and the US consulate are very pleased to be working
with such good and capable partners in support of building the
capacity of local government to monitor and mitigate conflict”.
She explained the role of USAID in Sudan as follows: “USAID’s conflict
reduction program has two main focuses. First, USAID is working to
strengthen the capacity of local authorities by giving them more
resources to manage conflict, such as furnished county headquarters
and communications equipment. Second, USAID supports programs that
productively engage youth, who can turn to cattle raiding because they
lack formal education or access to alternative livelihood. Our program
seeks to support the government of South Sudan in its efforts to
quickly implement practical projects with tangible dividend.”
Fine said that, within this broad strategy, Lakes state occupies a
special place. Lakes state is the geographic heart of South Sudan, it
held a central role in the South’s struggle during the war, and its
stability is extremely important for the development of all of South
Sudan. As a result, USAID’s conflict reduction program has been
working and will continue to work in closed partnership with the state
government to support activities in Lakes state.
“In additional to the new COTAL building, this dry season USAID has
also supported the construction of a new county headquarters in Rumbek
North. Local youth from Maper and Mayendit were brought together for
block-making training. USAID has also delivered communications
equipment, including satellite phones, Vsats for internet access, and
high frequency radios to many counties in Lakes “said Fine.
Susan reaffirmed that “the US government has been a strong friend of
the government and people of South Sudan – during the war, through the
peace process, and after the CPA. We will remain with you as South
Sudan continues its historical move towards independence and beyond,
working with you on this project and much more.”
According to US Ambassador R. Barrie Walkley, “after decades of
struggle and sacrifice, South Sudan will gain its independence on July
9. South Sudan will soon stand tall as an equal among the community of
sovereign nations. This is a time to appreciate your hard work and to
celebrate your success in making history. On behalf of the government
of the United States, I am here today to offer my deepest
congratulations to all of you. The US Government has been a close
friend of South Sudan in the past and will continue to be a strong
partner to the people of the independent South Sudan as you build a
new nation that is peaceful prosperous for generations to come.”
In partnership with local government, USAID has assisted state
authorities to construct or complete COTALs in Kuajok, Bentiu, and now
the impressive building in Rumbek. USAID has also supported the
construction of centers for traditional authorities in Akobo, Pibor,
Makuatch, as well as constructing a building for a peace committees in
Warawa, Northern Bahr el Ghazal state that will enable chiefs on both
sides of the north/south border to resolve local disputes more
effectively.
Walkley promised that American people will stand beside people of
South Sudan to support them in any kind of developmental activities.
Governor Chol Tong Mayay said that the Lakes state government will be
able to work the traditional leaders by using the building to house a
council of traditional chiefs. Tong said that some chiefs hold court
under trees in their areas, which has proved difficult for local
government to regulate.
With regards to inter-clan clashes, Tong said “Dog are better than us
nowadays – we are killing our mothers – all marriage relationships
between clans get spoiled […] even dogs have mercy among themselves
and I don’t understand why are we killing children and women who are
harmless?”
Lakes state has long been subject to inter-tribal clashes, which have
been on the increase in recent months due to an atmosphere of
instability, with an increase in the cost of living, increasing rebel
activity and political unrest in the run-up to South Sudan’s
independence, which has been conducive to cattle rustling and other
crimes.
(ST)
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