Community leaders in South Sudan’s Jonglei State held consultative meetings on peace with neighbouring communities in Boma State on Monday.
The dialogue in Bor town was attended by 100 community leaders including six observers from Boma State.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, David Anyang Nyuon, the Chairperson of Peace and Reconciliation Commission said the dialogue focused on how to end cattle raids and child abductions.
‘’It also focuses on how to minimize crimes and how to cooperate to apprehend the criminals who normally cause alarming situations at the grassroots level,” he said.
The government official emphasized the need for peace and reconciliation between communities in greater Jonglei. Anyang urged community leaders in Jonglei and Boma states to embrace peace.
The event was supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) through its VISTAS program.
The pastoralist Dinkas from Jonglei and their Murle neighbours in Boma state have for years been involved in cattle raids and child abductions. Several agreements aimed at ending the conflict could not hold.