Churches in Pochalla County of Greater Pibor Administrative Area on Sunday concluded a two days reconciliation conference, according to local sources in the area.

The conference comes days after a shooting incident in Pochalla reportedly sparked when a trader who refused to allow goods to be inspected. Residents in Pochalla ran to the bushes for safety before calm return to the area.

The conference which was attended by both church leaders and government officials kicked off on Christmas Day, drawing together Christians from Pochalla North and South to pray together and seek God’s forgiveness over violence that the counties have been facing over the past months.

Participants from Juba, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia also attended the conference urging the residents to live in peace as people of Pochalla County. “This conference has contributed to restore peace in Pochalla County,” one of the participants said.

Violence in Pochalla started during a food distribution in June this year leaving several people dead while scores were wounded.

File photo: Anyuak traditional leaders at a meeting earlier this year