Governor in peace efforts with neighbouring South Sudan

Turkana, Kenya: Turkana County government leadership held bilateral meeting with the Governor Louis Lobong of Eastern Equatorial State of South Sudan last week to discuss matters of common interest along the international borders.

After the meeting at a hotel in Lodwar, Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok revealed the talks centred on insecurity, infrastructure and poor flow of information that has affected the two regions for years.

"We have discussed a number of issues, but the major one is about stabilising security along our borders and ensure that pastoralists from the two communities share resources amicably," said Nanok.

The governor said the two governments will work to allow easy movements of pastoralists looking for grazing land and water.

The Eastern Equatorial governor said he is grateful for the support the Kenyan government has given South Sudan and appealed to Kenya to continue supporting them.

BORDER CONFLICTS

"We have talked about how the two regions can co-exist peacefully, since we share cultural and social values. We have come together to see how our people can graze and share resources peacefully," Lobong said.

The region is currently experiencing drought, which has forced communities from both sides to cross into foreign territories.This sometimes leads into conflicts over resources.

Lobong assured Nanok that Eastern Equatorial will ensure there is minimal conflict across the border.

"We will work with Governor Nanok to ensure that this community (Turkana), which had been left behind comes up to the level of other communities in Kenya," Lobong concluded.

The leaders will hold another meeting in South Sudan to discuss how to solve the conflicts faced by the two neighbouring communities.

The meeting follows another one last week, where Kenya signed a peace pact with Uganda, securing harmonius relationship between Turkana community and their Karamojong' counterparts.