Rival communities in Jonglei State have agreed to end hostilities following consultations aimed at resolving a dispute over fishing islands that has fuelled deadly violence and displaced thousands since 2023.
The three-day consultations with communities in Twic East and Duk counties concluded on Thursday. The committees leading the process submitted their reports to caretaker Governor Moses Majok Gatluak on Friday evening.
The two counties have experienced repeated intercommunal clashes over ownership of fishing islands, with violence escalating in recent weeks despite previous government-led peace efforts.
Last week, Governor Gatluak formed two 12-member committees to engage the rival communities, saying restoring peace and security was a priority for his administration.
Gen. Biar Mading Biar, head of the Twic East committee, told Radio Tamazuj that the consultations had been productive and that his community had agreed to stop fighting.
“After arriving in Panyagoor with my 12-member committee, we first met the county authorities, who gave us the go-ahead and supported the cessation of hostilities. Second, we met our youth leaders and, finally, the entire community,” he said.
Biar said residents had expressed frustration with previous peace efforts, accusing past administrations of favouring one side or failing to understand the conflict. He said the community had agreed to support the governor’s initiative and refrain from further hostilities.
He said the next step is to address the underlying causes of the dispute to achieve lasting peace.
Elijah Mocnom Wuor, head of the Duk County committee, said his community is also committed to ending the violence and would not launch further attacks on Twic East.
“Our community is calling for peace, and they will not launch attacks in Twic East again,” he said.
Wuor said residents had urged the government to reopen roads and ensure that resolutions reached under previous peace agreements were implemented.
Kenya Mach, an activist with the Jonglei State Women Association, welcomed the consultations but called for a broader peace process involving civil society, women, young people, political leaders and neighbouring communities.
“This is a good step towards sustainable peace. Our people are suffering because of insecurity,” she said.
Mach said the conflict between Twic East and Duk, as well as a separate dispute between Abang and Alual communities, had been raised at a meeting with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) the previous week. She said inclusive consultations are essential to addressing the root causes of the violence and securing lasting peace.
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