Twic East community in Jonglei say services can avoid conflicts
April 19, 2013 (JUBA) – Community leaders from Ayual community of Twic East county in South Sudan’s largest state, Jonglei, have urged the leadership to provide services at the grassroots that will avoid the competition over resources that causes communal conflicts.
They narrated a rare conflict which recently emerged between the Ayual and Dachuek communities of the same area over land dispute in which a number of people were killed from both sides, adding that although the two sub-clans had already reconciled, it was good to take preventive measures that will avoid any future conflicts over water points with any other neighbouring communities.
The community also said the Murle neighbouring tribe was causing havoc to their peaceful community, stressing on the need to dig wells in their grazing areas for their cattle and avoid frequent movement of their animals in search of water during the dry season.
The community leaders clearly stated that attempts of reconciliation among communities in South Sudan may not succeed if tackled in isolation without also addressing the relevant factors of development and service delivery that will avoid competition over the resources.
The leadership has initiated a journey of healing for national reconciliation which, according to Machar, would also address issues of good governance, development and service delivery as well as justice and land disputes in the country, in addition to the violent conflicts among the communities.
A consultative conference involving all the stakeholders from the ten states was scheduled to take place in June this year in order to strategize on how to achieve the program, pending its official launching in December this year.
President Salva Kiir on Monday however issued a presidential order suspending the preparations for the holding of the proposed conference on national reconciliation until he formed a committee that will revive the process.
(ST)