Map of Western Equatoria State. | Courtesy.

A lawmaker in Western Equatoria Legislative Assembly is appealing to the state government and South Sudan Council of Churches to reorganize the recently postponed Tambura peace conference.

On March 13, 2024, South Sudan Council of Churches confirmed calling off the planned peace conference in Tambura County after the local commissioner raised security and preparation concerns.

The conference scheduled for 18th March, was meant to reconcile, unite and build confident among the communities of Tambura following the deadly subnational violence that raged in the area in 2022.

But Tambura County Commissioner, Mathew Mabenge wrote a letter to South Sudan Council of Churches head office in Juba, postponing the peace conference, citing tension in the area.

Reacting to the decision, lawmaker Isaac Martin Agbiazingi, said the General Secretary of the South Sudan Council of Churches should reconsider his words saying, the county was read for dialogue.

Hon. Agbiazingi said the local population are not against the peace conference.

“We are not against the conference; we need the conference to be conducted but in a way that the conference should not cause another chaos or deaths,” he told Eye Radio.

“That is what we the people of Tambura are saying. As the council of churches, let them organize it, talk to the security organs, create awareness to the people that there is a conference of reconciliation between the worrying parties.”

“Then after that awareness, the locals will know that the problem is going to be solved, then conference will come in.”

He, however, calls on the people of Tambura County to remain calm, adding, the peace conference will be held soon.