A forum to promote local languages and cultures successfully ended in South Sudan’s Aweil State Monday.

More 30 intellectuals from various civil society organizations, community leaders and teachers attended the one-day forum.

The event aimed at strengthening local diversity and peaceful coexistence among communities despite conflicts at grassroots levels in Northern Bahr el Ghazal region.

Democracy International funded the one-day symposium implemented by Law Awareness Group (LAG), a civil society entity.

The Dinka and Luo are two main ethnic groups in the region with former being the majority and the latter the second largest group.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, the director for Law Awareness Group, Upieu Jongkoor said local languages play great roles in peace building, development and conflict management. 

“The purpose of the forum was to enhance local languages to strengthen cultural diversity in local communities,” said Jongkoor.

He said cultural diversity is important as it allows people to share life challenges while seeking ways of how to handle them amicably.

Angelina Thiep, a forum participant, said local languages can be used as a main tool to bring peace and development among communities.  

She expressed fears that neglecting some languages could cause conflict.