Murder, defilement top conflict cases in Magwi County

By Julius N. Uma

May 12, 2010 (MAGWI) — Despite efforts by local authorities, murder, rape and defilement practices still continue to dominate reported cases of conflict among most communities in Eastern Equatoria State’s Magwi County, a new assessment conducted by a civil society organization has revealed.

The one-week assessment, exclusively by Generation Agency for Development and Transformation–Pentagon (GADET-Pentagon); a none-partisan none-governmental civil society organization aimed at assessing the current state of affairs as well as key actors in community planning activities among others.

Reacting to the results of the assessment yesterday, GADET-Pentagon’s Executive Director, Taban A. Christopher told Sudan Tribune that the assessment mainly involved conducting a baseline study through documenting, compiling and submitting data on community development planning activities, and constructive dialogue competencies and conflict resolution abilities of local actors within the state.

Meanwhile, complex cases such as murder, rape, defilement and disputes over land were reportedly referred to high levels like the courts of law, should local authorities fail to handle what is beyond their mandates.

However, with general elections long gone, many expect members of the population to focus more on next year’s referendum for a possible Southern Sudan independence. The long-awaited exercise is seen as a key part of Sudan’s 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

“The aftermath of these elections should not be perceived as avenues for generating hatred and conflict among candidates, agents and supporters, but rather as pillars for a successful referendum,” Mr. Taban A. Christopher said.

But to achieve all these, analysts strongly contend that the youth and women groups need to be actively engaged in the nation-building processes. These two categories, hitherto, feel isolated in major decision-making activities.

Currently, unemployment, high levels of illiteracy, gender-based violence and issued pertaining land ownership remain top priorities among these two categories of people.

(ST)