The Dinka community in Bor County of Jonglei State and the Murle Community in Gumuruk County of the Greater Pibor Area have called for an inclusive conference to restore peace in the region.

The call was made at a meeting in the capital Juba on Monday. A least 20 participants, including traditional leaders and government officials from Gumuruk and Bor counties, took part in the meeting.

The paramount chief of Bor County, Malaak Ayuen, told Radio Tamazuj Friday that they also called for the resumption of transports along the Juba-Pibor and Bor-Pibor roads.

“We, the traditional leaders of Bor, youth and women representatives and that of Gumuruk, agreed to restore peace,” Malaak said. “However, this needs the involvement of all communities of Greater Jonglei like Nuer, Dinka, Anyuak, and Murle. So we call for a comprehensive conference to be held. “

Chief Malaak said peace can be achieved if they are continuously engaged by the government to iron out their differences, and that government should also deploy security forces to pacify Juba-Pibor and Bor-Pibor roads.

Yuot Alier, Bor County Commissioner, who was also a participant, said peace is necessary because they cannot change the order of nature that made them neighbours.

“Things we addressed also included calls for refrain from harmful practices and involvement of the entire communities of Greater Jonglei because peace is not only limited to Bor and Gumuruk, “he said.

For his part, Paul Kidongi, the Gumuruk County commissioner, also reiterated the call for peace, saying innocent civilians are suffering.

“We suffer due to the road closure. So, the call for the reopening of roads and restoration of peace is a plausible move. We are happy, and we hope the national government and all agencies will support us in our call for a comprehensive peace conference,” Paul said.

Several parts of Jonglei state and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) have been plagued by communal violence, primarily due to cattle raiding, child kidnapping and disputes over grazing land.

Even though authorities have initiated peace and reconciliation conferences and international donors have invested heavily in peace initiatives, reprisal attacks have persisted.

Source: Radio Tamazuj