18 November 2011 – A four-day governors' forum that concluded today in the South Sudanese capital of Juba ranked security and decentralized governance high on its list of recommendations.

Among other proposals, the governors recommended that construction and maintenance of secure inter-state roads be prioritized, especially those leading to northern and southern border states.

Insecurity in all states was due to inter-tribal violence, cattle rustling or child abduction, the governors noted. High crime rates in urban towns like Juba were related to small arms in communities.

Due to insecurity, Lakes State Governor Chol Tong Maya noted that farmers in her area had abandoned their fields, road construction had stopped and schools had closed.

"With insecurity, it is difficult to develop the state," Governor Maya said, adding that Lakes had carried out some civilian disarmament, but more was needed for people to feel safe.

The forum also recommended that the government be decentralized by devolution (transfer of power to state governments), which was the highest form of decentralization.

States should be directly answerable to people through the president, council of states and state legislative assemblies, the governors proposed. The creation of a ministry of local government, as proposed by the central authority, would devalue the decentralization system desired by states.

Discussions also focused on states' performance reports, public service reforms, good governance, service delivery, food security, infrastructural development, economy and finance.

The forum recommended that the government fulfill commitments to construct new schools and ensure that these institutions were fairly distributed in all states.

It also urged the government to manage land on behalf of the people and enforce the 2009 Land Act, as well as allocate more funding for agriculture in combating food security.

The government should also review the 2005 Town and Country Planning Act, which requires all streets to be named and houses numbered, governors recommended. In addition, it should prioritize development of Ramcell to ensure that it became a fitting and properly planned capital of the republic.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, South Sudanese Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar told state governors to remain committed in addressing security challenges across the country.

He also announced that the government would shortly transform the intergovernmental linkages department into a coordinating bureau. "This bureau will be served by a technical secretariat and will be tasked with identifying and recommending solutions in order to provide services to our population."

The inter-governmental bureau would review key issues and recommendations that the governor's had put forth in the forum, the Vice-President said.

"Our objective is strengthening decentralization and governance, equitable service delivery and sustainable development in the Republic of South Sudan," said Dr. Machar.