October 09, 2008 (JUBA) — The President of Southern Sudan H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit has expressed his concern with the deteriorating security in Southern Sudan.

Speaking during the official opening of the Second Session of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, he reiterated that the security situation in the region was still unstable.
 
“Despite progress after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), insecurity still remains a real challenge in some parts of Southern Sudan. The cause of such insecurity has proved difficult to explain”, said the president.
 
He added that one of the main causes of the current insecurity is attributed to the culture of cattle rustling and inter –ethnic or inter-clan fighting, exacerbated by the proliferation of illegal fire arms in the hands of the citizens.
 
The president, however, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to address the issue, adding that it is the primary duty of the government is to ensure that peace and security prevail throughout Southern Sudan.  
 
"We are now even more committed to taking measures to concentrate on these inter-community conflicts by asserting an effective leadership that is capable of providing security and promoting peace and reconciliation”,  said the president.
 
He stressed on the need to strengthen the involvement of local government and local authorities in order to achieve the target of disarming every citizen since these two institutions are close to people at the grassroots.

Speaking separately during the Governors'' Forum, the president expressed his satisfaction with the efforts exerted by the Governors of Unity, Warrap, Lakes and Western Bahr El Ghazal States in finding an amicable and lasting solution to the long running inter-clan feuds.
 
"I am glad to inform you that in the case of Warrap State, at the recent Traditional Authority Conference held in Tonj, the causes of these conflicts were discussed and all the concerned parties were reconciled”, said President Kiir.

He added that as part of the government’s efforts to address insecurity, a special meeting was held by the Southern Sudan Security Committee and attended by all governors, where concrete resolutions were passed. A special meeting of Southern Sudan Defense Council was also convened in light of the current external and internal threats to the security of Southern Sudan and a number of resolutions taken to ensure safety and security of the region.
 
"Our Ministry of Internal Affairs, SPLA Command and other relevant public institutions have been directed to ensure the implementation of these resolutions," said The President.
 
The president also hit out at the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) for its contribution to the fragile security situation in most parts of Southern Sudan.

“The LRA continues to be the source of insecurity to our communities in Western Equatoria and Eastern Equatoria States. Despite negotiations between the Government of Uganda and the LRA in the hope of attaining peace, nothing has been achieved”, said the president.

It is now almost three years since the Uganda/LRA peace talks began in 2006. Yet the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) regrettably continues receiving reports of LRA atrocities including widespread homicide and abductions of women, children and innocent citizens.