W. Equatoria Governor Calls for Unity at Juba Church

When Daniel Badagbu Rimbasa stood before the Moru congregation in Juba last Sunday, he delivered a message his region desperately needs to hear: peace is the strongest weapon for transformation.

The newly appointed governor of Western Equatoria state attended a church service in the Gudele 2 area, where he called on residents and community leaders to embrace unity over division. His visit came just weeks after taking office earlier this month.

"Peace is what we need most," Rimbasa told reporters after the service. "It heals, unites and transforms our communities."

The governor's message centered on collective action rather than individual efforts. He emphasized that progress in Western Equatoria requires everyone working together, with guidance from community elders and faith leaders.

Rimbasa urged residents to become their "brothers' and sisters' keepers," protecting one another and preserving life in a region that has seen its share of conflict. His vision is clear: a Western Equatoria that can feed itself, stay resilient, and leave tribal divisions behind.

The Ripple Effect

When political leaders partner with faith communities, the impact reaches far beyond a single Sunday service. Rimbasa praised the congregation for conducting prayers in the Moru language alongside English and Arabic, recognizing this practice as a bridge between cultural preservation and inclusion.

This approach shows how local traditions can strengthen rather than divide communities. By honoring different languages and bringing people together under shared values, the church service modeled the kind of unity Rimbasa hopes to build across the entire state.

Religious leaders play a unique role in reconciliation efforts because they often command trust across tribal and political lines. When governors and church elders work side by side, they create multiple pathways for peace to take root in everyday life.

Western Equatoria now has a leader who sees development and peace as inseparable goals, built one community gathering at a time.