Relief food donated by Warrap State government – Photo credit: Office of the Governor

A customary chief of the Loyoro court in New Site in Juba has issued an urgent appeal to the country’s leadership, calling on the government to prioritize citizen survival and address the severe economic and security hardships facing local communities.

Speaking on Eye Radio’s Under the Tree program on Thursday, Chief Abraham Achiek Makur expressed concern over the growing population congestion in urban centers, which he noted has driven many citizens to the capital in a desperate search for alternative ways to survive.

Chief Achiek highlighted that rampant insecurity has severely crippled the ability of ordinary citizens to secure livelihoods, warning that leaving the safety of populated areas puts lives at risk.

“As chiefs, we have a lot of challenges, but what is more painful is insecurity,” Chief Achiek said during the broadcast. “People are congested in one place, and there are few opportunities to work. People could not go to the outskirts of the town to do some work because of criminals who could kill you.”

The traditional leader further criticized the government’s apparent detachment from the immediate plight of the population, drawing a parallel between state governance and parental responsibility.

“The government has almost forgotten its citizens. My message to them is to let them imagine how the citizens can survive. Nobody can stay without children; the citizens are like the children of the government,” Achiek urged.

“My message is for them not to forget the people. Without the people, it is like they have no children. They are recognized because of the citizens who make up a nation. This is my message to our leaders.”