The Lakes State government on Friday declared its full support for the IGAD PLUS compromise peace agreement which was signed by President Salva Kiir and SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar last month.

Speaking during a public lecture organized at Akon-buoi cultural hall, the representative of the governor, Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Samuel Wel Machiek said that Lakes State declared their support for the hard decision taken by the president to sign the agreement.

He said that Lakes State had organized the lecture as a platform for enlightening the general public about the IGAD PLUS compromise peace agreement. Wel highlighted that the agreement would bring changes and would benefit the people.

Samuel Wel strongly urged the intellectuals, director generals and senior government officials, religious leaders and civil society organizations to use the peace deal as a chance for peace-making among the communities of the state, which themselves have been wracked by inter-communal violence.

He accused politicians and senior government officials of using 'Gelweng' youths for their own ends, instead of condemning senseless revenge killing and fighting in the state.

Meanwhile, Makuac Magol Aluath, a resident of Rumbek Central County, expressed his happiness and joy at the signing of the peace agreement, saying this is a wise decision which the people expected from the president.

The local resident said he thought the peace agreement would help bring stability to South Sudan and would result in disarmament of people in Lakes State, saying the citizens are tired of random killing of people and revenge attacks which is hindering social service delivery in the state.