A three-day peace and reconciliation dialogue between the Lopit and Toposa communities in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria state concluded on Thursday with calls for peaceful co-existence and unity.
The communities representatives at Imehejek, Lafon County headquarters resolved to return stolen cattle, establish a common market and construct a peace road from Imehejek to Kapoeta North to facilitate the delivery of goods and services. The Lopit community also agreed to allow the Toposa graze their animals in their areas during the dry season.
The two communities from Kapoeta North and Lafon counties have traded accusations over cattle raids that have led to the loss of lives and property for years.
“This peace must be alive so that our young people produce, children are sent to school and live happy lives. We need all the youth to get peace, cultivate freely, move along the road freely. Another thing, you the people of Kapoeta North, this peace will bring us good development especially the road that will be opened. People will bring goats from there and they will also take groundnut from here because Toposa don’t cultivate groundnuts but they have goats and cows which they will exchange," the state minister for local government Peter Lokeng Lotone said.
Lafon County Commissioner Mengisto Ukachi Agweri says the peace dialogue is a community initiative that should not be politicized while appreciating the two communities for seeking peace amongst themselves.
“From the policies of the government there is nothing bigger than peace, peace is everything and we thank God you have started this peace, that is why you asked the government to witness it. Congratulations to the greater Lopit, it is our great concern after the Toposa of Riwoto requested for dialogue and here we are today because of your acceptance," he said.
Ephone Emmanuel Lolimo, Kapoeta North County Commissioner tasked his fellow commissioners with building relations among neighboring communities for peaceful coexistence.
“It is very clear we came here because of peace. Our role as commissioners is to implement peace. There is no development yet, we are to unite the communities. We sat in Kapoeta North County to see what programs do we have with our neighbors we have Buya, Lopit, Pari, Murle, and Jie. Our program is just peace and unity that is why we came to talk about it," Commissioner Emmanuel said.
Rose Ilam Agusto, a female representative from Lopit says cattle theft has been the major cause of conflict between the communities. She urged members of the two communities to embrace each other and reduce conflicts.
“Now we are for peace but the issue of stealing that I have been hearing Toposa should not come and steal our animals to cause for us problems now our people die for nothing. We need to be together, the cause of conflict between us (Lopit and Toposa) is cattle theft we don’t rival over land but only animals. We need to be friends. I am ready for this peace so that our place will progress," Ilam declared.
Meanwhile, Joseph Losike, the paramount chief of Kapoeta north county urges both communities to allow free movement of humanitarian agencies to serve the vulnerable population.