Category: English

Source: APO

Government will prioritise mechanised agriculture as a central enabler of agricultural production and rural transformation in the next five years, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze has said.

Presenting a statement on the performance of the agriculture sector during the plenary sitting on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, Tumwebaze said the sector’s biggest hindrance has been farming that depends on human labour and nature.

He said that mechanised agriculture will enable farmers cultivate more land with ease, support value addition, create jobs and service businesses and infrastructure, while irrigation will help farmers to produce more often and reliably following the current unpredictable weather patterns.

To attain this, Tumwebaze said government plans to provide 10,000 tractors over the next five years to bridge the gap in arable land utilisation and make agricultural mechanisation both accessible and affordable.

“Our policy strategy proposes two lines of intervention, that is the establishment and operationalisation of 21 mechanisation centers and a cost-sharing approach to tractor acquisition involving government, commercial farmers, and producer groups,” he said.

Since 2018, government has acquired and deployed a total of 1,080 assorted tractors with their matching implements, alongside 1,350 single-axle walk-behind tractors equipped with various accessories.

“This equipment is directly allocated to farmers, farmer groups, associations and institutions through a memorandum of understanding signed between the beneficiaries and the ministry,” Tumwebaze said.

The minister added that 2,036 tractor operators and technicians have been trained at Namalere Mechanisation Centre and deployed across the country to ensure efficient, safe and productive operation of the machinery.

To address the erratic weather patterns and cut reliance on nature, Tumwebaze also flagged irrigation as one of the core priorities needed to support and stabilise agricultural production.

“Following guidance from H.E the President and the directive from Cabinet, the ministry in collaboration with Ministry of Water and Environment has submitted a detailed National Irrigation Development Plan to Finance Ministry for funding under a project called the National Irrigation Development Project (NIDEP) proposed to cover the whole country,” he said.

The project objectives will include; to support and guarantee food security through resilient agriculture; to support and guarantee income security through sustainable commercial farming of suitable enterprises, etc.

Currently, the Ministries of Agriculture and Water have completed the construction of 10 large-scale irrigation schemes, increasing the total area under formal irrigation by 7,203 hectares. Some of these schemes include; the Doho II rice irrigation scheme in Butaleja, Ngenge in Kween and Mubuku II in Kasese.

Others under construction are; the Kabuyanda scheme in Isingiro, Namaitsu in Bududa and Chembobai in Bukwo.

In his statement, Tumwebaze noted how the Parish Development Model (PDM) has revolutionalised the household economy that majorly relies on agriculture. He said the flagship programme has caused a financial revolution in the country by closing the gap in the financial inclusion ecosystem, especially among smallholders.

To date, government has cumulatively injected up to Shs4.4 trillion in parish SACCOs since its inception five years ago.

For medium and large-scale farmers not covered under PDM, Tumwebaze said they plan to continue rolling out other support interventions following the Agriculture Value Chain Development Strategy.

Commenting on the general outlook of the agriculture sector, Tumwebaze said the sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP has increased from a 10-year average of 23 per cent to 26.2 per cent by the end of the 2025/2026 financial year, thus accounting for an average of 40 per cent of earnings from the country’s exports.

Members of Parliament are expected to comprehensively debate the minister’s report during next week’s plenary sittings.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO

Public seminars focusing on the objective situation in the homeland, as well as global and regional developments, were conducted for nationals in Italy, South Sudan, South Africa, and Angola.

At the seminars conducted in Italy, Mr. Fesehatison Petros, Eritrea’s Ambassador to Italy, addressed nationals in Rome; Mr. Teklesenbet Imam, Eritrea’s Consul General, addressed nationals in Bologna; and Mr. Girmay Habtemicael, Head of Public Affairs, addressed nationals in Bari. The seminars focused on the political and security situation and developments in the region.

At the seminar in Juba, South Sudan, which was attended by over 650 nationals, Mr. Tsegai Mehari, Consul of Eritrea, and Mr. Romodan Ahmedin, Head of Public and Community Affairs, provided briefings on the diplomatic efforts being exerted by the Eritrean Government to ensure regional stability based on mutual respect.

The participants expressed their conviction to play their due part in national affairs.

At the seminar he conducted for nationals on the objective situation, Mr. Saleh Omar, Eritrea’s Ambassador to South Africa and the Southern African countries, called on nationals to strengthen their participation in national political, economic, diplomatic, media, and cultural activities.

In the same vein, Mr. Desale Tekleab, Eritrea’s Consul General in Angola, conducted a seminar for nationals residing in Luanda on the objective situation in the homeland, as well as regional and global developments.

The participants expressed their readiness to strengthen their participation in efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and adopted a five-point resolution.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

The Eritrean community in Jeddah and its environs held its 9th congress on 15 October under the theme “Let’s Consolidate Our Organization for the Development of Our Community.”

At the congress, which was attended by Mr. Abdelrahman Osman, Eritrea’s Consul General in Jeddah and its environs; Mr. Ahmed Jaefer, Head of Public and Community Affairs; and heads of national associations and organizations, Mr. Abdelkadir Malek, Chairman of the Eritrean community, presented a three-year activity report highlighting the strengths and challenges encountered.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Abdelrahman Osman emphasized the significance of strengthening participation and contribution in social activities to enhance the community and address the needs of its members.

The participants elected members of the central and executive committees for a three-year term.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, is returning as Lead Sponsor of Lagos Fashion Week 2026, reaffirming its commitment to empowering Africa’s creative industries as engines of inclusive economic growth, industrialisation and job creation.

Africa’s fashion industry holds significant potential to drive economic diversification, expand employment opportunities and strengthen the continent’s participation in global value chains. However, unlocking this potential requires more than creative talent. Investment by institutions such as AFC, in infrastructure, productive capacity, local manufacturing and access to capital, is essential to enabling African fashion businesses to scale, compete internationally and capture greater value within the continent.

AFC’s return builds on the success of its inaugural partnership with Lagos Fashion Week in 2025, which included a joint event with its investee company, ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP), bringing together approximately 300 participants to explore the relationship between African fashion, industrialisation, local manufacturing and value addition. The engagement highlighted the importance of connecting the continent’s creative talent with the industrial infrastructure and production capabilities required to build competitive fashion and textile value chains.

Building on this foundation, AFC’s participation in Lagos Fashion Week 2026 will focus on the investment and financing requirements for a more sustainable and climate-resilient African fashion industry. In collaboration with AFC Capital Partners, the Corporation will convene a panel discussion titled “OFF THE RUNWAY: Financing a Sustainable African Fashion Industry in a Changing Climate.” The session will bring together leaders from fashion, energy, sustainability and investment to explore how infrastructure, innovative financing and more resilient production systems can support the growth of Nigeria’s fashion industry, with lessons for the wider African market.

“Africa’s creative industries embody both our cultural pride and our economic promise. Through this renewed partnership with Lagos Fashion Week 2026, we are advancing AFC’s commitment to turn that promise into measurable impact—supporting the full fashion value chain to empower the youth, strengthen local manufacturing, and drive value addition on the continent,” said Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC. “By building critical infrastructure that underpins these creative value chains, AFC is ensuring that Africa’s designers and manufacturers can compete on a truly global stage,” he added.

Lagos Fashion Week has established itself as a globally recognised platform showcasing African design, creativity and innovation. AFC’s continued partnership reflects the importance of connecting this creative strength with the infrastructure, investment and industrial capabilities needed to build a more competitive and sustainable African fashion industry.

Omoyemi Akerele, Founder of Lagos Fashion Week said, “We are delighted to welcome African Fashion Corporation back as a key partner for Lagos Fashion Week 2026. Their focus this season speaks to the spirit of the African Fashion Coalition Manifesto and two of its central pillars: Community Led Creation and Inclusive Prosperity, and Circularity. Both recognise that community, resourcefulness and regeneration are not emerging trends, but foundations upon which African fashion has long been built. This partnership reinforces our continued commitment to the Manifesto’s vision of an African fashion industry that preserves indigenous knowledge, strengthens local production, creates shared economic value and builds a regenerative future rooted in our communities.”

AFC’s continued partnership with Lagos Fashion Week builds on its wider engagement across Africa’s creative landscape, including most recently, the launch of its ARD South Residency, a fully supported 3-month artist-in-residence program for young African artists, organized in collaboration with the ARD Art Institution in Cairo. These collaborations reflect the Corporation’s commitment to supporting the entrepreneurs, innovators and businesses contributing to Africa’s economic transformation. Through its investments in critical infrastructure and strategic sectors, AFC continues to support industrial development, strengthen local value chains and unlock opportunities for sustainable and inclusive growth across the continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Media Enquiries:
Yewande Thorpe
Communications
Africa Finance Corporation
Mobile +234 1 279 9654
Email: yewande.thorpe@africafc.org

About AFC:
AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

Nineteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 49 member countries and has invested over US$20 billion in 36 African countries since its inception.

www.AfricaFC.org

Source: APO

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Libya is building a digital oilfield strategy around AI, automation and stronger communications infrastructure as the National Oil Corporation (NOC) works to raise crude production toward two million barrels per day (bpd).

The strategy has accelerated in 2026. The Ministry of Oil and Gas launched its New Energy Tech initiative to connect operational challenges in the oil and gas sector with Libyan engineers, AI specialists, software developers, robotics teams, researchers and startups capable of developing and testing local technology solutions.

These developments will form part of the broader technology and investment agenda at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES) 2027, taking place in Tripoli from January 23–25,  as operators and investors examine the technical capabilities required to support Libya’s next production cycle.

Technological Innovation Targets Operating Challenges

New Energy Tech is intended to move digitalization beyond technology procurement and into the development of solutions tailored to Libya’s own operating conditions. Energy companies identify specific operational problems, participants develop prototypes, and successful solutions can then be linked to companies for practical deployment, with the program targeting improvements in efficiency, operating costs, emissions and decision-making.

The initiative also reflects a broader push to develop domestic technical capabilities as Libya modernizes its oil sector. Participants include university students and academics alongside experienced engineers, software developers and AI specialists, creating a pipeline between the country’s technology community and its energy industry.

The move follows a major field-level milestone in March, when NOC subsidiary Sirte Oil Company completed Libya’s first fully autonomous AI-powered geosteering operation at the Al-Khair field using SLB technology. The system autonomously guided an approximately 1,800-foot horizontal section within the reservoir, doubling the drilling penetration rate and producing 1,060 bpd.

Building the Digital Oilfield

The Al-Khair operation illustrates how AI is moving into core production activities, but Libya’s digitalization program extends across field monitoring, communications and remote operations. Automated systems can transmit production and equipment data from remote wells to centralized facilities, allowing operators to analyze performance and respond to changes without relying solely on physical field visits.

In December 2025, Aljeel Aljadeed Technology and Hatif Libya launched an Oil Fields Connectivity Project covering more than 200 vital sites, including more than 80 oilfields and ports. The network provides speeds of up to 100 GB per second, expandable to 400 GB per second, and was designed with 5G-ready technology.

The project builds on the NOC’s September 2024 “Toward Smart Oil Cities” agreements with Al-Madar, Libyana and Hatif Libya to modernize telecommunications and digital infrastructure in oil-producing areas. The agreements positioned communications technology as a foundation for smarter resource management, real-time data analysis and more efficient operations.

Technology for Libya’s Growth Cycle

Digitalization is gaining importance as Libya expands exploration, redevelopment and upstream investment. As new projects and operators add complexity to the sector, connected data systems, automated drilling and remote monitoring can give the NOC and operating companies greater visibility across geographically dispersed assets.

LEES 2027 will bring this technology agenda into the wider discussion around Libya’s next investment cycle. Alongside upstream opportunities, infrastructure and production expansion, the summit will examine the technical capabilities needed to execute projects and improve performance across the energy sector.

For Libya, the digital oilfield is therefore becoming part of a broader production strategy. AI-assisted drilling, connected fields, automated monitoring and locally developed technology are being assembled into an operating model designed to extract more value from existing assets while supporting the next generation of upstream development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO

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Ghana is stepping up efforts to attract investment into mineral resources beyond gold, as the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, held separate meetings with a Chinese delegation to discuss opportunities in the mining sector and officials from Asanko Gold Ghana Limited.

During the meeting with the Chinese delegation, from Sino Africa, the Minister said the country was keen to partner with investors who could help explore its largely untapped mineral potential, particularly in manganese, iron and steel.

He welcomed the delegation’s expertise and expressed Ghana’s interest in partnerships that would transform its mineral wealth into value-added products, create jobs and strengthen local industrial development.

The Chinese delegation expressed interest in exploring investment opportunities in Ghana’s mining industry, including the possibility of taking an equity stake in Adamus Resources. The discussions highlighted Ghana’s broader ambition to attract investors who would go beyond extracting raw minerals to support local processing and value addition.

In a separate meeting, the Minister received representatives of Asanko Gold Ghana, who welcomed the renewal of the company’s mining leases, describing the decision as a positive signal to the international investment community about Ghana’s regulatory stability.

The company reaffirmed its confidence in the mine’s exploration potential and plans to pursue open-pit expansion and underground mining.

It also pledged to strengthen its engagement with the 35 communities surrounding its operations and reiterated its willingness to work with the government to transition about 250 square kilometres of previously relinquished concession land into community mining.

Mr Buah, in response, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making contract mining work for Ghanaian businesses without compromising workers’ welfare.

He said a policy directive to the Minerals Commission would set clear standards to ensure that workers’ salaries and benefits were protected, stressing that no worker should be worse off under the transition.

The Minister furthur urged Asanko to continue engaging communities and complying with the country’s laws, noting that responsible partnerships must deliver returns for investors while also improving outcomes for workers and host communities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Republic of Ghana.

Source: APO

“Our first session, devoted to de-escalation, will offer an opportunity to explore practical ways forward,” said Pekka Haavisto, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan, in a call to delegates to identify measures and use their “respective channels of engagement [to] build confidence and help create conditions conducive to a comprehensive ceasefire”. 

Now in its fourth year, the conflict began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – former allies who had jointly seized power in a 2021 coup.  

Deadly drone attacks against civilians and public infrastructure have been a feature of the war and frequently condemned by humanitarian and human rights officials. 

“The war in Sudan has become a drone war; it kills mostly civilians,” said Alexandre Fasel, State Secretary of Switzerland, which is co-hosting the meeting with the UN. “Famine-like conditions persist in Darfur, the Kordofan state and elsewhere in the country; it is the war that drives this hunger.” 

Highlighting the protections offered to non-combatants by international law, Mr. Fasel insisted that the Geneva Conventions “are very clear: the protection of civilians and humanitarian access must not wait for a ceasefire and a political solution. Civilians are suffering and dying today.” 

Millions in need

Across Sudan today, almost 34 million people need humanitarian support, according to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, Mr. Fasel noted. He also cited UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) alerts that eight million Sudanese children are out of school today. 

“This is not only a violation to the right of education but an immense risk factor for a future stable Sudan. Conflict-related sexual violence has re-emerged as a tactic to terrorise and humiliate the civilian population, often targeted along ethnicity or perceived affiliations,” he insisted. 

In addition to discussing efforts towards a ceasefire, delegates are expected to consider a Sudanese-led “transitional political phase that reflects the aspirations” of the country’s people, by means of “an inclusive and credible dialogue”, the UN chief’s Personal Envoy, Mr. Havisto, said, insisting that “our role is to support the Sudanese in shaping their country’s shared future, with due regard for the diversity of their voices and experiences”. 

Latest round of talks

The talks, known officially as Consultative Meetings on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan, have previously taken place in Cairo twice (June 2024 and January 2026) and in Djibouti (July 2024), Nouakchott (December 2024) and Brussels (June 2025) and Cairo (January 2026).  

Neither the Sudanese Government nor the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are represented at the meeting in Geneva, as the mechanism was established for mediators to coordinate their actions. 

On the margins of Wednesday’s meeting in Geneva, the UN Personal Envoy was also expected to engage with key regional and international partners from the so-called “Quad” mechanism” – involving the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt – and the “Quintet” mechanism of the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the UN, the European Union and the League of Arab States. 

The current talks followed a day of humanitarian-focused discussions also at UN Geneva that involved delegations, senior UN officials and international non-governmental organizations operating in Sudan including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Sudan INGO Forum. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO

The patient is a woman who recently travelled from Uganda and began showing symptoms on 7 October, four days after her arrival. 

The woman sought care at a private health facility in the capital, Abuja, on 11 October; laboratory testing confirmed the diagnosis on 20 October. 

She remains in isolation and is receiving medical care as investigations continue to determine the likely source of her infection and reconstruct her full travel and exposure history.  

Contact tracing underway 

WHO said the Nigerian health authorities have so far identified 44 contacts who are being monitored amid intensified efforts to find other people who may have been exposed. 

Infection prevention and control measures are being ramped up in the private health facility where the woman sought care.  

Cases in five countries 

Nigeria is the fifth country to detect Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease since an outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in mid-May – the deadliest in the country’s history. 

More than 9,500 cases and more than 4,200 deaths were recorded as of 18 October, according to latest data from the Congolese health authorities. There is currently no vaccine to treat the virus. 

Uganda also faced a deadly outbreak which was officially declared over in late August, while nine cases have been reported in Kenya and one in the Netherlands that are linked to the DRC. 

Containing virus spread  

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has activated its incident management system to coordinate response efforts, WHO said. 

The UN agency stressed that rapid identification of cases, timely follow-up of contacts and effective infection prevention and control are critical to contain the spread of the virus.  

WHO and partners are working closely with the Nigerian health authorities to strengthen control measures, including case investigation, contact tracing, infection prevention and control. The agency is also assisting with the provision of essential supplies including personal protective equipment for health workers.  

Meanwhile, WHO has advised all countries in the region to sustain a high level of readiness as the DRC outbreak continues to evolve.  

Governments are also advised to maintain strong disease surveillance and ensure that laboratories can safely test suspected cases, among other measures. 

WHO has not recommended any restrictions regarding travel and trade with affected countries. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO

Platinum group metals, gold, nickel, copper, lithium and rare earth elements lie together in one mineral province in Kaduna State, which the Minister of Solid Minerals Development announced in June as world-class and the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency has verified. The Ministry opens its doors to global investors at Nigeria NOW!, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja on 19 and 20 November.

Processing is following the discoveries, as lithium facilities of $600m in Nasarawa State and $200m near Abuja sit alongside a $400m rare earth processing project in Nasarawa, and mining lease applicants must now submit value-addition plans. Annual mining revenue has risen from about N6bn before the current administration to more than N70bn by the end of 2025.

The routes to export markets are moving too, as the Federal Executive Council has approved deep seaports at Bakassi and Ondo as public-private partnerships, with the Bakassi port alone valued at $2.27bn.

With a month to go, investors and developers travelling to Abuja will meet these projects at close quarters. In investor boardrooms, the Government of Nigeria will review specific projects in depth, from large-scale infrastructure to multilateral programmes such as Mission 300.

Speaking to Energy News Network in September, Tunde Arisekola, Senior Advisor, Geological and Minerals Information at the African Minerals Development Centre, who joins the minerals session on the first day, said that “first and foremost all international investors coming to Abuja should understand that Nigeria is ready and open for business”. In the same interview he described Nigeria’s economy as “stable, safe, peaceful and welcoming to all international investors”.

The programme opens with a welcome from the Chief Host, H.E. Dr Oladele Henry Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, followed by sessions on how the Ministry of Power will drive capacity into Nigeria’s industrial hubs and on the policies opening the minerals sector to foreign investment, including domestic processing and value addition. The second day turns to the pipeline of transport and port infrastructure and the $1bn Domestic Green Bond, and closes with an investors’ clinic on the 2025 Tax Act.

Lagos State Government, a Nigeria NOW! partner, now regulates its own electricity market after NERC transferred oversight to the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission. Hon. Biodun Ogunleye, Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, told Energy News Network that “capital follows bankable cashflows”. The state’s job, he said, is “to create both the infrastructure plan and the commercial architecture that makes that plan financeable”.

On Friday 20 November, YES! Nigeria runs alongside the main programme under the theme “Empowering Today’s Entrepreneurs, Building Tomorrow’s Industrialists”. Abuja University and Philomath University are partners, and the Youth Sustainable Development Network is Community Partner. Its opening session hands the stage to young Nigerians already at work in the sector, among them Damilola Hamid Balogun of YSDN and Emmanuel Terwase of Boost Power.

Nigeria NOW! is held under the patronage of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, with the Lagos State Government, the Nigerian Indigenous Women in Mining & Natural Resources Organisation, Women in Mining, Nextier and The Electricity Hub as partners.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of EnergyNet Ltd..

Media contact:
Poliana Sperandio
Director, Marketing Strategy & Performance, EnergyNet
Poliana@EnergyNet.co.uk
+44 (0) 207 384 8191

About Nigeria NOW!
Nigeria NOW! Investing in Energy, Infrastructure & Mining is an annual event in Abuja that brings global investors to Nigeria’s projects of national importance and benchmarks their delivery. It runs on 19 and 20 November 2026 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, with YES! Nigeria, the Youth Energy Summit, on 20 November. More information is available at energy-news-network.com/networking/nigeria-now.

About EnergyNet:
EnergyNet has organised investment conferences across Africa for nearly thirty years, including the Africa Energy Forum, bringing governments and investors together around the continent’s energy and infrastructure projects. EnergyNet is part of Clarion Events, and its editorial platform, Energy News Network (ENN), covers energy investment and policy across Africa at energy-news-network.com.

Source: APO

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In South Sudan’s Jonglei State, recurring clashes between youth from Duk and Twic East counties have left fear and displacement in their wake.

A four-day patrol by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to Duk county witnessed firsthand the impact of the ongoing violence on local communities.

Peacekeepers had planned to visit Poktap, Padiet, Payuel and Pajut to assess security conditions in areas where revenge attacks and resource disputes have fueled tensions since 2023.

However, the patrol had to be cut short.

“Muddy and damaged roads prevented us from reaching Duk Padiet and Pajut, making Poktap our ultimate temporary base for three nights. But despite this, we actively engaged communities and authorities to identify pressing security concerns,” explained Augustine Nana Yaw Asare, Military Liaison Officer.

In Poktap, located between Padiet and Twic East, residents described an uncertain life in which even routine activities carry life-threatening risks.

“Living in Poktap right now means being trapped in the crossfire. Our survival relies on traveling between Padiet and Twic East, but movement has become nearly impossible. We are stuck, unable to buy food or essentials and are in constant fear of being attacked,” said local resident Dabora Akech Lual.

Community leaders say that conflict affects every household.

“As a father, whenever you leave home to search for food, you are overcome with fear about what might happen to your family while you are away,” revealed Chief Daniel Mawut Ajak.

For people displaced by armed violence in northern Jonglei earlier this year, Poktap offers a fragile sense of safety. Having fled one conflict, they now face insecurity, restricted movement and dwindling access to basic necessities.

Amou Ding Malang fled Panyang payam with her six children after violence reached Pajut, an attack that claimed her husband’s life.

“I long to return to Panyang, but we are trapped by both a lack of transport and the fear of being ambushed along the road,” she said.

Others face the growing threat of hunger. Thon Chuol, who was displaced from Lankien in Nyirol county, warned that dwindling food supplies and erratic rainfall were worsening an already precarious situation.

“We are now facing a different threat, hunger. Our hosts have been generous, sharing whatever little food they have, but the crisis is deepening every day.”

Yet, the presence of peacekeepers can help restore confidence and create conditions for communities to return home. About 15 kilometers towards Pajut, in Payuel payam, sustained UNMISS patrols have reassured residents of a village once deserted because of intercommunal cattle raiding and abductions.

“Following a devastating attack that left many dead and numerous herds of cattle stolen, UNMISS increased patrols. This restored our confidence to stay and encouraged some displaced families to return. We are always grateful when peacekeepers visit our village. Our earnest plea is for these security threats to be addressed once and for all,” said Mary Adhau, a local women’s leader.

But lasting peace will require more than security patrols.

Following recent violence in Wernyol, Duk county, the Caretaker Governor of Jonglei State dispatched two committees to engage local stakeholders and mediate an end to the hostilities.

Local authorities are also calling on young people, community members and the diaspora to reject revenge attacks, help rebuild trust between the two communities and refrain from using social media to incite hate.

“Such violence serves no purpose other than the destruction of our own people. We need collective action to stop it,” said Abraham Leek, Deputy Executive Director of Duk County.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).