A peace conference bringing together five governors and representatives of human right organizations, traditional leaders, cattle keepers and farmers in the Equatoria and Bahr al Ghazal regions has agreed to set up a joint monitoring committee to establish a joint border court, a state official said.
Gok State Governor Madhang Majok Meen told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that the conference held on Tuesday in Rumbek was a follow-up on resolutions of the previous peace conference between the two regions on Mvolo County.
He further said the participants agreed to form a joint border committee to oversee the resolutions that would manage cross-border relations.
The top state official pointed out that the joint committee will be responsible for the formation of a joint border court to try any case between farmers and herders.
He revealed one of the resolutions prevent herds from carrying guns in the area of farmers. He added that the safety of pastoralists and their cattle will be provided by the government of the host community.
“This joint committee will also help mediate between the communities how best individual differences could be resolved at where they occur without hypnotizing communities to escalate differences between farmers and pastoralists. So it was a very fruitful conference,” he said.
The conference brought together governors of five states comprising Terekeka, Gok, Amadi, Western and Eastern Lakes. Other participants include chiefs, representatives of cattle keepers, farmers and some leaders from Misseriya and Ngok Dinka to share their experiences.
The peace conference was facilitated by the United Nations and USAID's VISTAS program.