Unity State communities root for reconciliation at Juba conference

By Ruot George

Communities from the three counties of Leer, Mayiandit and Koch in Unity State have decided to foster reconciliation and put an end to violence bedevilling the people.

The communities organised a three days conference in Juba last week and agreed that the mushrooming insecurity being witnessed are caused by failure to fully implement the 2018 peace agreement as stipulated.

Other problems including land disputes, floods, cattle raiding, hate speech, nepotism and revenge killing were also identified as affecting cohesion among the people.

Last month, fighting which started in Mirmir Payam of Koch County spread to Leer and Mayiandit, leaving dozens of people dead and displacing 6000 households.

Many villages were burnt down.

The reconciliation dialogue brought together 125 participants including members of national parliament from Leer, Mayiandit and Koch, elders, religious leaders, youths, women groups and intellections.

Participants were not happy with the way government authorities in the counties are handling community leadership.

“The three commissioners should learn from experience. We must all find out from the three commissioners what is motivating them to displace our people,” Kuony Gatwech, the women leader for Mayiandit community in Juba Internally Displaced People’s Camp said.

The three commissioners were not present in person at the conference.

Manyang Riek Buom, a participant at the conference blamed the leaders for not implementing action plans to stop violence among communities.

“Last year leaders agreed to select a joint team to patrol our borders, one group to be deployed in Tutnyang and another group to be deployed in Padeah. Was that implemented?” Buom asked.

They agreed to ensure the law takes its course so that reconciliation is properly achieved among the communities.

“Let us not give thieves any chance, let us put laws to deal with them,” Stephen Thiey Yar, a former governor said.