Traditional spiritual leaders known as “spear masters” concluded a three-day peace dialogue in Rumbek on Tuesday, aiming to address cycles of revenge killings and cattle theft in South Sudan’s Lakes State.
The conference, organized by the local group, Organization for Children’s Harmony (TOCH), and the Peace Canal organization with funding from Swiss Development Cooperation, brought together spear masters from Cueibet, Rumbek Centre, Rumbek North, and Rumbek East counties.
Among some Dinka communities, spear masters are respected ritual leaders believed to hold spiritual authority. Organizers said their inclusion is critical for effective conflict resolution.
“We are targeting spear masters to be part of peace building,” said Robert Mayom Majak, a TOCH peace-building monitor. He explained that community members and youths often allege that some spear masters use their influence to instigate violence. “If that’s the case, we need spear masters to disengage from this behavior.”
Majak clarified that not all spear masters are involved, distinguishing between spiritual leaders and those who “perform charms and magic” that encourage criminal activities.
He said they will soon start a process of identifying and documenting spiritual leaders across the region, targeting 108 of them.
At the closing ceremony at Afex Hotel, local officials and traditional leaders agreed on several resolutions. These included increased cooperation between spear masters and government authorities, community-led dialogues, and addressing high alcohol consumption, which was cited as a trigger for violence.
“The spiritual leaders need to partner with the government on dialogue, apprehending the culprits, and the issue of cattle theft,” said Dut Manak, commissioner of Rumbek Central County. He said the leaders had “accepted peace” and performed a ritual sacrifice of a ram as a sign of reconciliation.
However, some spear masters deflected blame. Spiritual leader Makat Chuor denied his peers’ involvement in conflicts, instead pointing to traditional witchcraft and magicians from other states.
“We are calling on the spiritual leaders and magicians who are currently operating in Lakes State to leave,” Chuor said. “They are just here to cause violence in exchange for the wealth of the community.”
The dialogue also produced more severe proposals. Lueth Chiec, a spear master from Cueibet county, said the group resolved that cattle thieves and those practicing harmful magic “should be caught and executed by firing squad immediately.”
Lakes State Minister of Local Government Mabor Meen Wol acknowledged past government mistakes and urged the leaders to support stability, saying security has improved under Governor Rin Tueny Mabor.
“There is peace and stability now, and everyone is cultivating freely without fear,” Wol said.
The spear masters pledged to conduct further peace missions in specific conflict hotspots between communities in the coming days.