New bridge at Jur River constructed by Chinese government - Courtesy

Senior government officials have called on some Luo youth who are against the naming of the bridge after Clement Mboro to back off from national government initiatives.

Recently, some Lu0 Youth in Wau have been protesting against the naming of the newly constructed bridge on Jur River after late veteran politician Clement Mboro.

The First Vice President has told the people of Western Bahr el Ghazal State that the naming of a bridge after a veteran politician should not be taken along tribal lines but was done for historical reasons.

According to Dr. Riek Machar, Clement Mboro was the first southerner to hold the position of Interior Minister in the then Sudan government in 1964.

Machar added that Clement Mboro also participated in the 1947 Juba conference which led to the creation of a semi-autonomous government in the Southern region.

Speaking during the 7^th Governor’s forum in Juba on Sunday, Dr Riek Machar said the political struggle of Clement Mboro represented the struggle of the people of South Sudan.

“The political struggle of Clement Mboro represents the struggle of the people of South Sudan,” Machar told the Governors’ Forum.

“If we named a bridge for him in Wau, we could have done it on the Malakal bridge across Lelo Malakal, I am one of those who would vote let us call it Clement Mboro…

“The conflict or the discussion taking place in Wau does not represent the struggle of the people of South Sudan.”

“We should memorize our leaders today it is Clement Mboro, tomorrow it will be Abel Alier, it will be Joseph Lagu on and on like that.”

“What is being discussed in Wau doesn’t reflect the character, the unity we want to express or enjoy in the country. We shouldn’t think prequel, tribal in naming either our bridges, our streets or our halls.”

For his part, the government spokesperson Michael Makuei confirmed that the naming of the bridge after Clement Mboro was decided during a national cabinet meeting.

“This [Brdige] was a gift to the government of South Sudan just like a freedom bridge and it was built in Wau because that bridge of Wau had already finished its period and was about to collapse that is why we decided that bridge to be built and we decided to name it after one of our veterans Clement Mboro, this was decided in the Council of Ministers,” said Makuei.

“There is a problem in Wau people are asking why it should be named after Clement Mboro it is the national government that decided,” he said.

“The project belongs to the national government who is that to question Your Excellency such a thing should not be allowed to happen otherwise the national government will have no voice.”

On Saturday, the first deputy speaker of the Council of States presented a report during the 7^th Governor’s Forum highlighting some states and administrative areas having issues.

Among the general issues, Mary Ayen said Western Bahr El Ghazal State has issues over the naming of Clement Mboro bridge, which has sparked the local communities’ protection.

She says, though the national government should give names to its major projects, there is a need to dialogue with the local communities over the matter.

“The cabinet or our national government has a right really to recognize the efforts and I know some of us one day will not be there but will maybe recognize in other parts that are not even our own,” Hon. Mary said.

“I am not seeing any conflict in this regard but all in all we need to dialogue with people because these are part of the trauma and sensitivity people are living.”

Clement Mboro was born in Mboro, Western Bahar El Ghazal in 1920 and died in July 2006 in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

He served as the Minister of Industry and Mining between 1960 -1969.

In the early 1970s after the “Mayo Coup” Clement Mboro was jailed by the then Sudanese President Jafar Nemeri for two and a half years.

After his release following the 1972 Addis Ababa peace agreement, Clement Mboro was made Representative of the High Commissioner for Refugees and was tasked to assist in the repatriation of Refugees from Uganda.

In July 1976, Jafar Nemiri jailed Clement Mboro and got released in September 1977 of which he went for election but, did not win.

He later became the speaker of the Regional Assembly.