South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The community of Murle in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) has asked President Salva Kiir Mayardit to build them a road linking Pibor to the capital city of Juba.
David Ngiro, the Chairperson of Murle Community Youth Association on Thursday said that poor road connectivity is one of the key issues affecting GPAA.
“We would like to ask your leadership (KIIR) to provide necessary services to GPAA citizens, when you look at the entire Pibor, the communities are in dire need of social services especially roads, hospitals, clean water and schools,” Ngiro told The Dawn in an interview in Juba.
He also disclosed that crimes such as cattle raiding and child abduction committed by Murle community are a result of neglect in terms of development, adding that can only change if services are provided.
“We call upon the President to focus especially on road connectivity from GPAA to the national capital and other areas in GPAA such as hospitals,” Ngiro said, adding that the community depends mainly on humanitarian assistance.
He requested the national leadership to help build feeder roads connecting all the seven counties of GPAA.
“GPAA citizens are the only community in South Sudan who lack development services, Pibor is not accessible to social services and as a result that has caused insecurity,” he said.
Ngiro also said that David Yau Yau, the former deputy minister of defense and veterans affairs recent defection to the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement –In Opposition (SPLM-IO) should not cause the national government to deny the people of GPAA social services.
In 2011, Yau Yau led the rebel movement Cobra Faction which waged war against the government after he had accused some people within the ruling SPLM of rigging elections in Pibor in 2010.