South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO) and the RSRTF consortium organised a three-day Civil-Military dialogue in Morobo, partnering with the Morobo County local government for this sixth event of its kind.
Malish John, the Coordinator of CEPO in Yei River County, stated that the dialogue aims to reinforce peace efforts in Morobo County, Central Equatoria.
“The dialogue evaluates previous civil-military resolutions, promotes peaceful coexistence, and assesses the current political and security situation, including the invasion of the SPLA-IO base in Panyume and the heavy deployment of government forces in Morobo County. It also addresses the deteriorating civil-military relations,” John explained in a statement during the closing of the three-day dialogue.
“The dialogue calls for stronger accountability, improved security coordination, and sustained inter-county cooperation to advance inclusive development in Central Equatoria State,” he added.
Supported by the International Organisation for Migration and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, the dialogue provided a platform for citizens and local leaders to engage directly with Members of Parliament and maintain close ties with their constituencies.
Mawa David, a representative of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, noted that conflicting leadership structures, particularly the presence of unauthorised chiefs operating in Juba, necessitate that authority remains rooted within the communities.
The three-day symposium brought together civil society organisations from Morobo, Yei, and Lainya counties to focus on development, security, and the perceived disconnect between elected Members of Parliament and local communities.
The dialogue attracted at least 100 participants from the five Payams of Morobo County, including county authorities, religious leaders, head chiefs, peace committee representatives, women leaders, youth leaders, and military members, including those from the South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF), National Security Services (NSS), Police, Wildlife, and Civil Defence.
