A three-day stakeholders’ peace conference concluded in Jonglei State’s border town of Akobo on Sunday with calls for peaceful coexistence in the greater Jonglei region.
44 participants drawn from various counties of Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) participated in the event.
Of the 44 participants, each county was represented by four officials including, the commissioner, head chief, youth leader, and a women leader. Jonglei was represented by Akobo, Nyirol, Uror, Duk, Ayod, Twic East, and Bor while Likuangole, Gumuruk, Vertet, and Pibor representatives were in attendance on the side of GPAA.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday evening, Akobo County Commissioner Puok nyang said the conference helped cement the commitment made in the past for peaceful coexistence between Jonglei State and GPAA.
“We had agreed that cattle raids, child abductions, and ambushes on commercial or humanitarian trucks be stopped,” he said. “This is in line with resolutions made in the past and we believe it will help cement peaceful coexistence.”
The local official said they also agreed to launch a campaign to disseminate peace and strengthen justice systems as a mechanism to ensure the conference resolutions are held.
On his part, Paul Kidongi, the Gumuruk County commissioner, said the conference could be a game-changer.
“Road attacks and attacks on women became commonplace recently,” he stated. “It is for these reasons and a need to end cattle raids in general that we converged in Akobo to forge peace.”