Communities in Lopit West in Eastern Equatoria State have resolved to co-exist peacefully and collaborate in the fight against law violators.
The communities made the resolution during a three-day inter-generational conference under the theme; “together we will build a brighter Lopit West”.
The conference that attracted over 500 delegates from Longiro and Bule payams in the Imehejek administrative area, was aimed at bringing communities together to resolve the issues affecting them.
The Lopit West communities have over the past years experienced conflicts resulting from cattle raids and inter-communal feuds that have claimed many lives and destroyed properties.
The organizing committee Chairperson, Albino Apari, said the conference resolved that anyone who violates the resolutions be arrested, charged or handed to the government.
He said unity and peaceful co-existence among the Lopit West communities with their neighbors aided movement and development.
“We agreed to unite to pave the way for resolving our issues and we should also co-exist with our neighboring communities. We have witnessed what happened in Western Lopit in our relationship with our neighbors, the Loronyo, in which many people were arrested, detained and others killed.
“If we do not unite and share common understanding with our neighbors, we might not progress, hence our resolution that anyone who violates the law be apprehended and handed to the Government to face justice,” he explained.
Longiro Payam Paramount Chief Carlo Abaha Kornelious cited land and border disputes as the key drivers of the conflicts among the Lopit West communities.
He, however, welcomed the outcome of the conference, urging the communities to forgive and work for the common good.
A Lopit community leader based in Kakuma, Kenya, Dente Modi, urged the communities to adopt the resolutions for durable peace.
He expressed their commitment to continue working and supporting communities in the follow up of the resolutions.
Aisha Will, a national MP who hails from the area, directed the communities to establish community policing to curb crime.
She said security is a responsibility of both the civilians and the government, cautioning the communities against accommodating criminals.
The conference also resolved to restore cultural values of marriages of one bull for Kasurubet, two cattle (female and male) in case of pregnancy and one cow for school fees.
They noted that the excessive dowry charges were common among the Lopit West communities, forcing many youth to engage in criminal activities with an aim of acquiring wealth.