South Sudanese rebels led by the former vice-president, Riek Machar have downplayed calls to relocate the country’s national capital to Wau in Western Bhar el Ghazal state, saying the proposal was unjustified and unnecessary.
Governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal state, Rizik Zechariah Hassan, last week publicly proposed that the national capital should be relocated from Juba in Central Equatoria state to his home state capital after meeting president Salva Kiir in Wau.
During his 16 July visit to the state, president Kiir hinted the desire to move to Wau and commended the host communities for maintaining unity and stability.
“You intermingle here as your tribes of Western Bahr el-Ghazal to the extent that we will bring you other people from other places. If your area becomes good and there is security, many people will come here,” president Kiir was quoted in the media as telling community elders from Baggari payam in Wau.
Sources in the government also revealed that the idea was discussed during the visit to the state by the president, adding that the governor was made to sell the idea in the country in order to make a proponent decision look like an initiative from the state government and host communities.
Observers said the decision was prompted by fear of increasing insecurity in Juba given the growing odd relationship between the national and state governments over proposed federalism as well as with host communities in Juba over lands.
sudantribune
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