Jonglei Youths Urged To Reconcile Against Tribal Clashes in Sudan

Local communities in Jonglei State have urged for peaceful reconciliation as a way forward in addressing tribal conflicts and related vices. They urged peace activists to develop methods that can reconcile these communities.

In a meeting scheduled by Greater Equatoria, Bar El Ghazal, and Unity, GEBU a civil society activist group consisting of youths and elders from Panyigor, Twich East County and the local authorities last Sunday called for peaceful reconciliation in restoring peace in the entire State of Jonglei.

The GEBU Chairperson Mr. Peter Atem led a peace mission delegation to Panyigor sub County of Twich East over the weekend. The visit was an effort to advocate for peaceful reconciliation among communities in Jonglei State who have suffered due to tribal conflicts.

Cattle rustling is commonly practiced by the Murle tribe which has been described as a dividing and conflicting issue in the State. The vice is associated with killing, child abduction and torching of houses. It’s also highly regarded by the Murle as they see cattle as a source of wealth, and children as an extra source of force for raiding cattle and killing of humans.

According to GEBU, hundreds of cattle are raided by Murle every week. Someone is either abducted or killed in the State by the Murle. These evil acts have made many communities in the neighboring Counties to Pibor and Murle to see them as enemies.

Youths from Twich East County urged the activists to engage the Murle and the neighboring communities who have been attacked by the Murle in order to find peaceful mediation mechanisms between them.

Ajuang Bior Duot, the Youth leader in Panyigor said that they have been experiencing the Murle threats consecutively and that their acts are fatal.

The youths further accused the rebel groups of associating with the Murle and supplying them with guns and ammunitions to be used against the other tribes for raiding. They urged the government to be involved in quelling the matter.

Mr. Atem urged the youths to always stick to peaceful methods of addressing their conflicts since fights and retaliation is not a solution to the matter.

“The Independence of South Sudan and days to come are an opportunity for youths to participate in the fields of agriculture, and investment activities,” Atem said. He told them that the Government of Southern Sudan, GOSS and NGOs had plans to create investments in the virtual independent State.

The participants urged the State Governments and the GOSS including peacemaking partners to gear efforts in restoring peace in the State.

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