Governor Cleto calls for an end to tribalism in the state

Western Bahr el Ghazal State Governor Sarah Cleto Rial addressing the Independence Day celebrations on 9 July 2022 in Wau. [Photo: Radio Tamazuj]

The governor of South Sudan’s Western Bahr al Ghazal State is calling for an end to tribalism which she says divides the people and hinders development in her state.

Governor Sarah Cleto was addressing citizens during Independence Day celebrations at the Isaac Stadium on Saturday in Wau town. 

“My fellow citizens of Western Bahr al-Ghazal, tribalism is one root cause of our crisis, let us end tribalism,” she told the gathering.

She adds, “The problem in which we identify ourselves through tribes and the areas where we come from, this is a problem. We don’t want things that divide us. We in Western Bahr el Ghazal, we are one people, let us build our unity and our social fabric in the state.” 

Governor Cleto said that if Western Bahr al Ghazal can unite, then the whole country will unite since her state is cosmopolitan. 

“If Western Bahr el Ghazal is united, the whole South Sudan will be in unity because different people of South Sudan live here. So, we have to promote the culture of unity,” she urged. 

She also called on refugees and internally displaced people from her state to return home.

“We have to encourage the internally displaced people, those who are still staying at the protection sites and refugees, let them return to the state,” she said.

Last Saturday, South Sudanese celebrated the 11th anniversary of their independence. However, there were no national celebrations.