Youth from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) and their counterparts from Bor of Jonglei state, after a 3-day trust-building and reconciliation dialogue, resolved to peacefully coexist.
The dialogue which started on Friday last week and ended yesterday in Lakes State capital of Rumbek was organized by the Peacebuilding Opportunities Fund (POF).
In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, Abraham Kela representing youth from Pibor said that they will inform their community to respect the agreement and maintain peace.
Kela says this dialogue is different from the numerous peace dialogues arranged between the two communities because it brought together the youth who are fighting.
"The previous dialogue was done by chiefs and politicians, but the current trust-building peace and reconciliation dialogue in Rumbek is mainly for the armed youth from Bor and Murle who are directly participating in cattle raiding, revenged killing, and child abduction," he added.
Paul Panchol representing Bor youth also believes this agreement will hold as opposed to other agreements between the two communities. According to him, the armed youth have for the first time met and discussed peace.
"This could tell these are the right people who could agree to dialogue and make peace among themselves and make it hold. Now both sides agreed that as soon as they return home, they will mobilize themselves to disseminate a message of peace and reconciliation to the community," Panchol said.
Panchol listed some of the resolutions which include the return of abducted children, cessation of hostilities, and erection of a white flag along the borders written in Nuer, Dinka, and Murle languages.
"Some of the issues raised during the dialogue on both sides particularly the Bor youth complained against Murle youth organizing child abduction, revenge killings, and cattle raidings while Murle youth complained against Bor youth for carrying out road ambushes between Pibor and Juba when they are taking their cattle to Juba," Panchol added.
The youth representative said the youth called upon development partners to come to their areas and support agriculture, road construction, health facilities, and schools.
He urged the youth to uphold their commitment to peace and reconciliation in the region.
Mabor Kau Akec of the POF organization said they will continue to facilitate peace dialogue among the youth.