By Hou Akot Hou
President Salva Kiir Mayardit has called hunger the biggest challenge his transitional unity government is struggling to fight while speaking to a mammoth crowd in Aweil town on Tuesday.
“I want to urge you to take heart as hunger is number one problem, know that everything is being tackled by your government that I am heading with other officials of the transitional government,” Kiir said.
He disclosed that acute food shortage is affecting everyone in the country.
Kiir instructd the Governor of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State Tong Aken Ngior to build close cooperation with neighboring Sudan in order to allow local traders purchase food across the border.
“Your governor Tong Aken Ngor has good working relationship with the Sudanese traders in Khartoum. I will be asking him to go to Sudan and purchase food, we will ensure that the sorghum is being sold in fewer amounts so that everyone has access to it,” Kiir said.
He noted that some trucks loaded with goods and has reached Gogrial in Warrap State.
he World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that 62.7 percent or 7.76 million people in South Sudan could face acute food insecurity from April-July 2023 due to a combination of climatic shocks and conflict blighting the world’s youngest republic.
In addition, the President assured that the government is working hard to ensure that the 2018 revitalized peace deal signed to end years of conflict holds.
“We are working well as members of the transitional government with all opposition. There will be no more transitional government extension, elections will be held as agreed in the roadmap,” Kiir said.
He said that the main aim of his visit is to assess the highway construction which is being started by local company Africa Resource Corporation (ARC).
The President is expected to visit Aweil Center County on Wednesday to assess the road construction project before returning to Juba.
