Five abductees recovered from Nyirol County of Jonglei State were on Monday handed over to Save the Children in the state capital, Bor to be reunited with their families in Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA). 

The abductees, including two women and three children, were kidnapped in May last year during clashes between GPPAA youth and their counterparts from Jonglei State. 

Speaking to reporters in Bor on Monday, Tuong Majok, the state cabinet affairs minister, welcomed the recovery describing it as part of government commitment to restoring peace in greater Jonglei.

“These two mothers and three children were recovered from Nyirol County. We are happy, we appreciate and we hope the same will be practiced by the Greater Pibor Administrative Area also to hand over the children they have. We are happy. So, we will hand over to Save the Children so that they are united with their families in Pibor,” Majok said. 

The government official pointed out that they are working to recover more abductees in parts of Jonglei. 

William Kuol Chol, the state gender minister, commended the Lou Nuer community for committing to peace by recovering the abductees. He condemned the practice of rampant abduction in Jonglei, describing it as a crime. 

For his part, Zewede Legesse, Save the Children’s child protection program manager, said they will reunite the abductees with their families in Pibor. He called for an end to child abduction, saying it is against child rights. 

“Save the Children is happy to be part of the peace process, especially when it comes to the reintegration process. Today we are witnessing the arrival of two women and three children who had been abducted. We are working with the government and partners to reintegrate the children safely with their families,” Legesse said.  

Last month, 48 women and children abducted during last year’s inter-communal clashes in parts of Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area were reunited with their families following a grassroots peace initiative among the Lou Nuer, Dinka Bor, and the Murle communities.