A church leader is urging the Council of States to urgently intervene and resolve a conflict over land in Upper Nile State.

Last week, communities clashed in Akoka County of over land dispute. The violence left more than nine people dead.

The Apostolic Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Malakal, Monsignor Dr. Roko Taban, urges the communities to remain calm.

“While the church is asking them to be calm, the government also through the Council of States, should begin intervening responsibly in order to solve this problem,” Dr Taban told Eye Radio.

Dr. Roko warned that if the dispute over land in Upper Nile is not resolved peacefully, it could continue to raise tensions in the area.

He added: “If the Council of States is a responsible body, this is the time for it to intervene and solve this problem. If they have the concern of the people of Upper Nile, this is the time to avoid conflicts when there are questions of the areas, the question of land, the question of counties and the question of payams.”

Besides other roles, the Council of States legislates for the promotion of a culture of peace, reconciliation and communal harmony among all the people of the states. It also approves changes in state names, capitals and boundaries.