Aiming to address disputes between Eastern Jikany Nuer communities within the opposition-controlled 'Sobat and Adar States' in Upper Nile region, representatives from both sides participated in a five-day peace conference which ended in Adar State on Monday.
Two opposition governors, commissioners, traditional leaders, youth and religious leaders attended the conference, which was held in the area of Malual in Adar State.
Yien Puoc Ruot, information minister for the opposition SPLM-IO in Sobat State, Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that participants at the first ever peace conference passed recommendations to stop the recurring challenges in the two states.
He further said members of the Eastern Jikany Nuer communities resolved to absorb the White Army militia into the national army in accordance with the peace deal and end cattle thefts in both states.
Ruot revealed that the participants also agreed to promote peaceful coexistence and intermarriages between the Eastern Jikany Nuer communities.
“There are challenges when it comes to the return of cows when there is a divorce, so the communities agreed to resolve the problems,” he said.
Ruot explained that whoever kills someone from the other side will pay a fine. The opposition official pointed out that the participants at the conference voted unanimously to prohibit the smoking of hashish in the two states.
He noted that the Eastern Jikany Nuer communities agreed to maintain peace and harmony among each other. He noted that the peace conference concluded with tough penalties toward anyone who violates the agreement.
According to Puoc, the participants at the peace and reconciliation conference pledged to support the revitalized peace agreement.
Under pressure from the international community, South Sudan government and several rebel factions signed a peace deal in September last year.
The deal calls for a functional unity government by May.