Authorities in Upper Nile state on Saturday launched a public mobilisation campaign in support of implementing the recently signed peace agreement.

Caretaker governor Chol Thon in his first public rally since being appointed announced his government's readiness to work with all political forces in the state and country. Speaking at Renk Stadium, he called on citizens to  support the govenrment in implementing the peace agreement.

Upper Nile state information minister Peter Hoth Tuach said President Salva Kiir had called all the governors to Juba and asked them to go back to their states to disseminate to the people the reasons why he signed the deal with former vice president Riek Machar and SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum.

"Our new governor came yesterday and started briefing with the constitutional potholders in the state," Hoth said on Saturday. "The briefing was attended by the county commissioners from all the counties of Upper Nile state and today he decided to address a public rally to pass the same message he told the state officials upon arrival yesterday from Juba. Our people are happy and they expressed willingness to support peace implementation."

"You know how people are suffering, the economy is experiencing difficulties and the region and the world are not seeing the legitimate reasons which the government gives as the cause of the war. We say the war was a result of the failed coup attempt engineered by Riek Machar and his groups but the world pays no attention to these important narratives and they decided to impose peace," he added.