Residents in South Sudan’s Ikotos County of Eastern Equatoria State have demanded that the new local government provide a wide range of services including roads, security, health, education among others.

Lokolong Joseph Jenisio of the SPLM-IO, the new commissioner of Ikotos County reported there last week and was received by mammoth crowds who made their demands clear. 

Grace Atango James, a resident of Hai Ifunge in Ikotos town, expressed joy over the arrival of the new leader.

“I am very happy but what we need the commissioner to do is look into our rights as women and empower us. We should not be forgotten as women, we should be raised and our voices should be heard,” Atango lamented. “Our hospital is bad. This is one of the biggest challenges because now if your pregnancy has a problem it will be hard to rescue you quickly. There is no operation here, we need the expansion of the hospital, we need more midwives, the doctors are not enough. I don’t know if it is a problem of money.”

According to Vitoria Sadia, another Ikotos resident, several women died in the course of delivery due to poor roads. 

“Many things are missing here in Ikotos. Number one is roads, our road from here to Isoke is very bad. We lost about four pregnant women in an attempt to rush them for an operation in Isoke hospital. The road should be prioritized. Another thing is hunger, the rains spoiled everything and also the people who returned from the camps don’t have food. We need these people to be helped. For us women, we just need peace,” Sadia said. 

Salah Lokuk Sarurlino of the Idwelle area complained that people are living in poverty pointing out that school teachers have no salaries and he expects the new commissioner to stabilize the rising prices of commodities in the Ikotos market. 

“A lot of things are missing here in Ikotos. The civilians here have no money. The commissioner should resolve these issues. We have lived for many months without a commissioner,” Lokuk said. 

Daniel Lohidong spoke about the need to address insecurity along the roads to allow free movement of people and goods.

“When we heard that the commissioner was coming, we were filled with happiness. His chair has stayed for a long time without someone that is why we are welcoming him here in a good way. Let him see so that he can lead people per their will. In most cases, there are robberies on the roads and many inhuman things happen. He needs to improve schools, the delayed salaries of teachers make them reluctant in their work,” Lohidong said.

Commissioner Lokolong Joseph, in response, vowed to work for unity and peace in the county.

“What is in my heart is love and unity of the people of Ikotos County and the people of South Sudan as a whole. One thing that can lead to prosperity is the opening up of roads,” Commissioner Lokolong said. “I will work with my people. As we have come to one county, no one can segregate people based on former counties. Since the return to 10 states, there is no county called Geria, or Kideopo Valley County. We have all come to Ikwoto County and we want to see love amongst ourselves."