The communities of Rup and Athoi of Amongpiny and Cuei-gak Payams of Rumbek Central and Rumbek East Counties last week agreed to live peacefully as neighbors.
Members of the two communities participated in a two-day peace and reconciliation dialogue organized by the Peace Opportunities Fund (POF) in partnership with the ministry of peacebuilding and UNMISS civil affairs department in Lakes State capital, Rumbek.
Addressing the participants during the closing ceremony on Friday, Lakes State deputy governor Poth Madit Dut urged the two communities to refrain from inter-communal fighting and instead cultivate together and fight hunger.
“This is a cultivation season and it is a policy of the government of Lakes State that everyone goes to the garden and cultivate to fight hunger and no need for senseless conflicts to continue. I am very happy because I have seen the key leaders of the two communities are present in this dialogue," he said.
Madit is optimistic the dialogue will yield fruits following a month of deadly clashes.
"Recently, in fact, three incidents occurred in Cuei-adukan, one being raiding of 15 ox-plows by Cuei-gak Payam armed youth, another incident in Cuei-adukan leading to the death of four people and 86 cows were raided by the community of Jiir Payam, and they had accepted the responsibility," the deputy governor explained. "The third incident was an attempt to attack Malengagok Payam which led to 5 soldiers injured and they are now receiving treatment, and some of their rifles were taken. But the state government managed that situation to persuade the armed youth and no clashes happened."
According to him, the stolen cattle and rifles will be returned and those found guilty will be made accountable.
“The government in Lakes State is using a method of persuasion not force. We want our communities to refrains from using violence for resolving and settling disputes,” he said.
The POF area advisor Mabor Kau Akec confirmed that the two communities have signed an agreement that includes the formation of a 15-member Gelwong peace leaders council from both sides to monitor peace.
He further said the council has also been tasked with facilitating the return of stolen cattle, dissemination of peace and reconciliation messages through exchange visits, and apprehension of suspected culprits.
A woman activist, Mary Aruon Gol said that the current community peace and reconciliation dialogue will bring lasting peace between Athoi and Rup communities of Amongpiny.
“This peace and reconciliation dialogue between Rup and Athoi has a strong resolution and it will be different with the previous failed agreements," she stated.
“I would like to urge women in the rural areas who brew local alcohol which fuel inter-communal fighting and those women used as spies for people to be killed to stop the practice and join hands with us for peace and reconciliation," she added.
The Executive Chief of Cuei-gak Payam of Rumbek East County Sultan Gor Makuac said that they will mobilize and create awareness of the outcome of the dialogue to people in the villages and cattle camps.
The peace and reconciliation dialogue brought together about 100 participants from Rup and Athoi communities of Rumbek Central and East Counties of Lakes State.