A community peace committee in South Sudan’s Lakes State has been restructured to bring in younger cattle-camp leaders as heavy rains and flooding raise concerns about renewed communal violence.
Peace Canal, working with the Lakes State Ministry of Peacebuilding, this week reviewed and renewed the Akut-dor peace committee, established in 2020 with 45 members, including 11 women.
Fourteen members have been replaced by younger cattle-camp leaders, including four women. The outgoing members will serve as advisers and mentors.
Simon Duop Jacob, Peace Canal’s peacebuilding manager, said some original members were no longer active in cattle camps because of age or other responsibilities.
“We have decided to replace those who are no longer active in the cattle camps and those who cannot respond quickly when there is a conflict to be de-escalated,” Jacob told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday.
The new members will receive training in conflict de-escalation, mediation and early-warning systems, he said.
Akut-dor was formed after consultations with community leaders and cattle-camp youth following research in 2019 into recurring violence in Greater Rumbek.
Sultan Gor Kerthiet, a community leader attending the meeting, said flooding could force cattle camps to move to higher ground, potentially increasing the risk of attacks.
“When flood comes, everyone in the cattle camp will move to high ground, and nobody should ambush people on the road,” he said.
Community representatives also urged residents to avoid violence and allow the planned December national elections to take place peacefully.
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