Commissioner Malimbo urges holdout armed groups to choose dialogue

(YEI RIVER COUNTY)—Commissioner of Yei River County, Henry Samuel Malimbo, is calling on holdout armed groups to return to dialogue as the only way of ending the long-running conflict affecting the county and the wider South Sudan.

Speaking to Access Radio on Tuesday, Malimbo made a direct appeal to those still in the bush to abandon violence and instead pursue peaceful discussions to address their grievances.

“This conflict will not take us forward. This conflict will destroy our country, conflict will destroy our youth in school. Better let’s sit down, let us look into our grievances and find solutions so that we bring peace in Yei,” he said.

Although the commissioner did not mention a specific holdout group operating in the county, his message comes at a time when communities continue to experience security incidents, including road ambushes on the outskirts of the town.

The commissioner warned that the ongoing conflict is not only deepening instability but also denying young people opportunities, particularly access to education.

Malimbo emphasised that peace remains the only viable path forward, calling on all sides to unite for the sake of the county’s future.

“Conflict will not solve any problem, but peace can solve and bring stability, so that our country will move forward. Right now, there’s no development in our county because there’s conflict, but we’re asking them, let us join our hands together and bring peace and stability to our greater Yei, our beloved land that we’re now destroying with conflict,” he noted.

Yei River County has been one of the areas heavily affected by violence since the outbreak of the South Sudan Civil War, with insecurity continuing even after the signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.

In 2016, renewed clashes between government forces and opposition groups turned Yei into a major conflict hotspot. The violence forced thousands of residents to flee their homes, with many seeking refuge in neighboring countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Kenya.

Although relative calm has returned to parts of the county in recent years, the presence of holdout groups, armed factions that did not sign or fully commit to the peace agreement, continues to pose a security challenge.

Clashes, road ambushes, and insecurity in rural areas of the county have been recorded in recent times, hindering resettlement efforts and economic recovery.

Commissioner Malimbo’s appeal comes amid ongoing efforts by the government to bring remaining armed groups into the peace process.