Central Equatoria State governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony. | File photo/Courtesy

Economic hardships, land grabbing, farmers-herders conflict and the non-signatory opposition forces were some of the issues that Governor of Central Equatoria State raised during reopening of the parliament on Tuesday.

Emmanuel Adil Anthony said the government is facing the multiple crisis which have hindered stability.

He said “aggressive” cattle herders have caused numerous atrocities against the citizens including the destruction of farms, intimidation, rape, murder, and displacement of the local populations.

The presence of armed opposition has made it difficult for displaced people and refugees to return home, says Adil.

He went on to say land-grabbing has caused insecurity and displaced civilians from their homes in some areas such as Mangalla, Luri, Rajaf, and Lado payams.

At the border, Adil said the state government has registered systematic incursion into Kajo-Keji by Ugandan citizens in areas of Kerwa, Ajio, and Go’boro.

“Security stabilization and peace-building are one of the key pillars of our government,” he told lawmakers.

“Our state is emerging from fears of imposed roaming of armed cattle herders’ presence of holdout groups, land grabbing, economic hardship, urban crimes, boarder interference, drug abuse, bad feeder roads.”

At the beginning of last month, the governor said the community of Bamurye was involved in a confrontation with citizens from Moyo, Yumbe, and Koboko.

Governor Adil said the state government will address the challenges to achieve sustainable peace through grassroots dialogue and reconciliation initiatives.

“In this regard I would like to inform the honorable August House, that there is improvement in civil-military relations court-martial to try soldiers or armed civilians that are suspected of crimes”.

On ways to tackle insecurities in the state, Adil called for disarmament of the civilian population and the roaming armed cattle herders as the only way “to save our people from suffering” gun violence.