Arop
Juba – Al-Wadi Newspaper
The Governor of Unity State, Justice Riek Bim Top Long, on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, received in his office in Juba a delegation of South Sudanese city mayors who recently returned from the regional conference on the Urban Dimensions of Forced Displacement, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the auspices of IGAD.
The delegation included Nyachieng Biey Tuet, Mayor of Bentiu, who joined the government delegation led by Thiik Thiik Mayardit, Deputy Mayor of Juba City, Tor Riam, Mayor of Malakal in Upper Nile State, and Jacob Machiek, Head of Bor Municipal Council.
During the meeting, Thiik Thiik Mayardit, who headed the delegation, briefed the Governor on the key outcomes of the conference. The discussions focused on the development of comprehensive strategies to address urban displacement, the adoption of inclusive urban policies that promote equity and social integration, data sharing and improved data collection, and the use of evidence-based decision-making. The conference also emphasized the importance of enhanced cooperation among IGAD member states in confronting the urban challenges associated with forced displacement.
Governor Riek Bim Top Long expressed his deep appreciation for the delegation’s efforts, praising their administrative dedication and active participation, which he said contribute significantly to the modernization of South Sudanese cities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to adopting the recommendations and resolutions presented at the conference and pledged to work toward their implementation within Unity State. This, he noted, would be achieved through close cooperation with local authorities, particularly the mayors, to support urban development and effectively respond to the humanitarian and developmental challenges posed by displacement.
The Governor concluded by describing the conference as “a vital platform for advancing balanced urban development”, and called for the continued cooperation of national and international partners to establish stability and build cities capable of meeting future challenges.
Admin
