Local leaders of the Gak and Manuer sections in the counties of Malueeth and Aloor in South Sudan’s Greater Lakes region have agreed to end five years of inter-communal conflict that has killed dozens of people, according to UNMISS.
“We must be willing to forgive and forget the past if we are to live as brothers and sisters of this great community,” said William Mathiang Ater, Paramount Chief of the Manuer section.
His counterpart from the Gak section, Executive Chief Manyiel Lieny Wol, urged both parts of the Pakam community to reconcile.
“I think we as Pakam people, we should be true to ourselves. Once we are truthful and genuine, then reconciliation can take place,” Manyiel said.
Women’s representative Debora Ayor Matueny called on the two sections to embrace peace. “We have suffered a lot as mothers, sisters and wives. Enough is enough. This conflict has robbed our community of basic services,” she said.
The three-day peace confidence at which the peace agreement was signed by the two sections last week was supported by the United Nations mission in South Sudan, Oxfam and the Disabled Association for Rehabilitation and Development.