Lobong urges Machi community to rejects joining armed group
By Kidega Livingstone
Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong Lojore met with the Machi Community in Katiko for a security sensitization meeting as part of his grassroots peace campaign in Greater Kapoeta. The meeting comes just three days after insecurity rocked Kapoeta Town, following an attack by armed criminals.
In his address to the Community on Sunday , Governor Lobong urged the Machi community to reject supporting criminals and to protect their children from being mobilized into meaningless armed groups. He cautioned against joining groups that seek to import war into Eastern Equatoria State, stressing that looting and violence would only bring suffering to the community itself.
The Governor noted that some individuals have been inciting youth to loot shops in Kapoeta, but reminded the people that most shops are owned by sons and daughters of the Toposa community and that destroying them would mean destroying their own brothers’ livelihoods and the infrastructure of their own town.
He further appealed to surrounding Toposa communities to refrain from crime to avoid falling victim to its consequences.
on behalf of the community, youth, women, and elders of Machi distanced themselves from the criminals, stating that although some politicians attempt to lure local youth into illegal activities, Machi stands for peace. Community leaders pledged their full cooperation with government forces to identify the whereabouts of criminals and committed to accompanying security forces once those locations are known.
The youth declared that they would rather choose peace with the government than align with organized criminals terrorizing the communities.
In a united stance, the Machi community resolved to single out any wrongdoers, monitor abnormal movements, and report suspicious activities in their villages.
The community reaffirmed their commitment to creating a peaceful environment for all in Eastern Equatoria State.
