UNMISS Patrol Reaches Remote Ezo, Calls for Investment in Agriculture and Infrastructure
Credit: UNMISS
A United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) patrol has visited the remote border county of Ezo in Western Equatoria State, reassuring residents that they have not been forgotten while highlighting the urgent need for greater investment in agriculture, infrastructure, and community protection.
The Dynamic Air Patrol, comprising military and civilian peacekeepers, travelled to the county to assess the security situation, engage with local communities, and strengthen partnerships aimed at improving protection and livelihoods.
Located along South Sudan’s borders with the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ezo is known for its fertile agricultural land but remains isolated due to poor road infrastructure and persistent cross-border insecurity.
Residents told the UN team that farming remains the backbone of the local economy, but inadequate support and widespread poverty continue to undermine productivity.
“As we are staying here, farming work is too much. We are currently harvesting groundnuts. The level of poverty is too much here,” said Queen Eunice, a resident of Ezo. “People are tired and struggling with farming because there is no support.”
Local authorities also identified poor roads as one of the county’s biggest obstacles to development. During the rainy season, roads become impassable, restricting trade, humanitarian access, and the delivery of essential services.
“Communities are doing their activities like farming and schooling, but the road to Ezo is very bad and it is slowing down economic activities in the county,” said local authority member Henry Zinaro.
UNMISS officials said Ezo has significant agricultural potential that could improve food security and household incomes if farmers receive better support.
UNMISS Military Observer Djamilla Pelagie Balakwe said providing agricultural equipment and machinery would enable communities to expand cultivation, increase food production, and strengthen the local economy. She also stressed the importance of maintaining boreholes to improve access to clean water and enhance civilian protection.
The mission further noted that Ezo’s location along porous international borders exposes communities to the movement of armed groups. With internally displaced persons and refugees living in the area, UNMISS emphasized the need to strengthen community protection mechanisms and early warning systems.
Anthony Moudie, a UNMISS Protection, Transition and Reintegration Officer, said empowering community protection committees would help residents identify emerging security threats, share early warning information, and resolve protection concerns before they escalate.
UNMISS said the patrols are designed not only to enhance security but also to build trust with communities, support local peace initiatives, and ensure remote areas remain connected to the country’s broader peace process.
