FILE PHOTO: Upper Nile State Governor Lt. Gen. James Koang Chuol Ranley addresses the media at the State House. | Photo: PPU

The government of Upper Nile State is making preparations to convene a joint peace and reconciliation conference for communities in Baliet, Ulang, and Nasir counties, aiming to defuse local tensions and secure the crucial Sobat Corridor for humanitarian aid and commerce.

Governor Lt. Gen. James Koang Chuol Ranley disclosed the initiative during a high-level coordination meeting in Malakal with a national delegation from Juba, led by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Albino Akol Atak.

The visiting delegation—which also included the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs and the National Chairperson of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC)—traveled to Upper Nile to evaluate the severe humanitarian conditions facing vulnerable populations across the state.

A central priority of the discussions was securing the immediate reopening of the Sobat River corridor. Armed violence, insecurity, and informal checkpoints have frequently forced the suspension of essential relief and health services along the waterway.

Reopening the route is critical for humanitarian agencies, including the World Food Programme (WFP), to transport emergency food, medical supplies, and relief items into Nasir, Ulang, and Baliet, while facilitating the flow of commercial goods toward Malakal.

Governor Koang confirmed that conference arrangements are actively underway, emphasizing that community dialogue will run parallel to security enforcement.

“My administration is committed to removing all operational obstacles affecting humanitarian access,” Governor Koang stated, reaffirming promises made during national security talks in Juba on August 4.

He assured aid organizations that Upper Nile State will prioritize the protection of relief personnel and assets while maintaining open supply lines.

Delegation members commended the state leadership’s proactive approach, describing the Sobat Corridor as an irreplaceable lifeline for thousands of displaced families and a foundational element for restoring broader stability across Upper Nile State.