Authorities in Jebel Boma of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area have on Sunday sent a letter demanding a peace dialogue with the Toposa of greater Kapoeta in South Sudan Eastern Equatoria state
In a letter addressed to Kapoeta East commissioner Abdalla Angelo Lokeno, Murle leaders requested a dialogue aimed at ending cattle theft, killings, and child abduction among the two communities.
Zakaria Niboi Nakinong, the commissioner of Jebel Boma county told Radio Tamazuj that rampant killings and cattle theft have severed relations between the two communities and there is a need to restore peace.
“We sent the letter because there was conflict and challenges facing us, that is why we say we want peace between us and the people of Kapoeta North and Kuron, for the road to be safe, for people to coexist with the people of Kapoeta and Kuron as a whole,” he said.
Commissioner Niboi urges the two communities to stop all forms of violence and shake for peaceful means of settling disputes for peace to prevail
“The youth of greater Pibor under the administration of their leaders and we the people of Boma have agreed to resolve our problems. We request our counterparts in the greater Kapoeta to accept our request to settle our disputes so that our people can move freely to Kapoeta for settlement, and the Toposa should welcome us and all of us are ready because we have seen all that has been happening,”
On his part, Kapoeta East County commissioner Abdallah Angelo Lokeno confirmed that he had received the letter and was ready to engage in the dialogue.
“I have received the letter and I have accepted the request. We have shared with the state government and the governor about this. They have proposed for an organization or institution and the church in Kuron to lead us in the peace dialogue,” he noted.
He urged the youth from both counties to desist from violence, raids, and abductions.
“I am urging the youth of the state to respect the peace and coexist with one another from different communities and live as brothers and agree as brothers to stop abduction, raiding and killing for this will not take us ahead,” Angelo appealed to the youth. “We cannot develop will claiming lives. We need to fight for good water, against illiteracy by building schools, and hospitals, and improve our status with the few resources we have.”