Clement Wani Konga, Governor of Central Equatoria State has cautioned his fellow Equatorians to remain neutral and not to involve themselves in the ongoing fighting between President Salva Kiir and his former Vice President Riek Machar. He described the civil war as a fight “between Dinka and Nuer.”

Konga stressed that there is no value for Equatorian people to join the ongoing fighting saying, “You have known that the two big tribes there are fighting among themselves and hatred have developed and it is difficult to attain peace.”

“It is the only chance that for the people of Equatoria coming together so as to bring an end to this war between Dinka and Nuer.”

“Who you are going to fight, are you going to fight with Dinka or Riek Machar? Equatorians should remain neutral so as to be able to bring peace. Equatorian should stand for peace,” Konga said.  

He also urged the people of his region not to follow the path of Alfred Lado Gore, an Equatorian politician who joined the rebel group led by Riek Machar, and he further urged his newly appointed cabinet to convince Lado to come back home.

“In Central Equatoria, we are facing instability caused by those who are supporting Alfred Lado Gore, even though they are illiterate still they are able to mobilize people to cause insecurity in the state. If Lado Gore wanted to be the vice president as he is now with Riek [he is deputy of SPLM-IO], why shouldn’t he wait for election or contest the election? If Riek comes then he will be the vice president without bloodshed,” Konga said. 

Governor Konga also denied some media reports saying he is going to contest in the coming election for the presidency.