Deng Deng Akon, the Speaker of the Council of States (second right) and Deputy Speaker Mary Ayen (second left) meet President Salva Kiir in the State House J1. 14 Ocotber 2022. (Photo: Office of the President).

The Council of States has formed a fact-finding committee to visit three states, including Abyei Administrative Area, that have recently faced a wave of insecurity and political instability.

A statement on the official Facebook page of the President’s office said on Friday, members of the Upper House met President Salva Kiir to discuss the security situation in Warrap, Unity, Western Equatoria States, and Abyei Administrative Area.

The legislators met the president days after deadly clashes erupted between youth from Twic and Abyei, leading to the death of 12 people and the wounding of 14 others.

The communal clashes were reportedly triggered by a longstanding border dispute in February this year.

Both the government and the United Nations said they have deployed security forces at the disputed border to protect civilians.

In another development, the government of Western Equatoria state is apparently mired with deepening political crisis, as political elites including the governor and his deputy are divided along political parties lines.

The state government fell apart last week, after some officials including Deputy Governor Dr. Kennedy Gaaniko and a handful of politicians announced that they have pulled out from active participation in state affairs.

The protesting group made the decision in response to Governor Alfred Futuyo’s alleged suspension of the council of ministers’ meetings indefinitely.

Meanwhile in Unity, there have been lingering cases of insecurity, which included the killing of the Mayom County Commissioner, the extrajudicial executions of members of the armed opposition in the area and the armed violence in the southern part of the state.

Honorable Deng Deng Akon, Speaker of the Council of State said they formed a fact-finding Committee to visit the three states and Abyei Administrative Area to find amicable solutions to the problems.

The Minister of Presidential Affairs Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin urged the respective state governments and the administrative areas to cooperate with the visiting team from the Council of States.