Rival communities in Lakes state opt for peaceful coexistence
December 8, 2015 (RUMBEK) – Three main rival communities in South Sudan’s Lakes state have accepted in principle to reconcile their differences and coexist peacefully.
Movement on the road between Rumbek North and Rumbek Central county had stopped due to fear of counter revenge killings resulting from highway ambushes.
The pastoralist youth formed several allies within each other gainst other sections.
Intellectual youth from the three communities helped facilitate the forum in the Lakes state capital, Rumbek.
The county commissioner of Rumbek Central county, Mawet Manuer Kok confirmed the meeting and expressed confident that peace will be restored between rival communities.
Manuer said discussions covered cattle raiding, counter revenge and rape as well as the way forward on how to reconcile communities by encouraging of one another.
“We have agreed to open roads between Rumbek North county and Rumbek Central county. We agreed to stop hostilities between Kuei, Rup and Pakam pastoralists youth- this peace will work,” he said.
The meeting also allowed free movement of cows within the counties minus restrictions.
Lakes state has remained in a vicious cycle of counter revenge attacks since caretaker governor Maj Gen Matur Chut Dhuol took over more than two years ago, with activists, traditional authorities and intellectuals calling upon South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir Mayardit to remove Dhuol, but so far all the calls have been overlooked by the president.
(ST)