The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has pledged to support the peace initiative in Kajo-Keji County of Central Equatoria State and closely monitor the implementation of the resolutions.
CEPO Executive Director Edmond Yakani made the promise at the conclusion of a two-day civilian-military dialogue aimed at fostering unity and cooperation in the Central Equatoria State County on Thursday.
The initiative, spearheaded by CEPO with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), brought together 100 participants including chiefs, youth, women, the military, and faith groups in all 32 bomas of the county.
My aim is to make sure that Kajo-Keji is in peace because all of you have responsibilities. We fought the Arabs for this country, but we continue to have insurgencies and the people have been suffering since the start of the liberation war. This is a forum to talk freely in pursuit of peace, he said.
The Central Equatoria Internal Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) Archbishop, Dr Paul Yugusuk, said that the people of Kajo-Keji were known for being friendly and peaceful.
This Kajo-Keji County civil-military dialogue should serve as an example to others, he said, pointing out that there existed a good relationship between the civilians and the army during the liberation war, which should be revived.
Newly-appointed County Security Coordinator Cpt Godfrey Data Rembe said his office would continue to enhance the cooperation between the civilians and the military
“I am still new here but I want to thank CEPO and its leadership and promise that we shall be sitting down with the chiefs in all the five payams and bomas to consider your advice on bridging the gap between the civilians and the military,” Rembe said.
County Commissioner David Lisi Christopher said the dialogue would foster cooperation between the military, the civil population and those voluntarily returning home from the refugee camps.
Lisi applauded Archbishop Yugusuk for bringing the military and civilian to speak out their minds to coexist peacefully and pledged to implement the resolutions.
“I want to promise you people of Kajo-Keji that I am here for peace, and I want you to work with me so that our brothers and sisters who are suffering in the refugee camps can return home,’’ he said.
The participants came up with seven resolutions that the community and the military agreed to implement in order to live in peace:
1. Immediate stop to the arbitrary arrest of innocent civilians.
2. Abstaining from hostile propaganda and hate speech.
3. Immediate implementation of the resolutions.
4. Strengthening access to justice in Kajo-Keji County.
5. Investing in agriculture and other social services.
6. Empowering the peace committee on a timely basis.
7. Establishing the county early warning system.