Daniel Laat, CEPO State Coordinator, Lakes State speaking to Eye Radio on Sunday, 3st Dec 2023. (Photo: Charles Wote/Eye Radio).

An activist in Lakes State has appealed to the government and partners to initiate dialogue and confidence building activities among communities that were affected by intercommunal conflicts in the state.

Daniel Laat, the state Coordinator of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) said communities in Lakes State are yet to move freely among themselves over fears of possible revenge.

He said although the state has been calm for the last two years, there is need to introduce activities that unite and reconcile communities.

“There is a need for reconciliation because when you look at the cases that had been handled here sometimes back, it is only like fighting that has stopped but that does not mean there is a total peace,” he told Eye Radio.

“There is need for confident building because these communities are now not able to move among themselves because there is still that fear that maybe someone will decide to attack you or maybe do the revenge on you.”

“The government and the partners need to initiate peace and reconciliation conferences and confident building activities. You could only see wrestling and sports now but there those activities that need to bring them together for days like conferences, they stay in one place and then they discussed.”

After being appointed the governor of a state in turmoil in 2021, Governor Rin Tueny Mabor restored law and order, reshaped Lakes to become one of the most stable states in the country.

Governor Tueny’s efforts to restore stability in the state earned him a national and regional recognition.

However, activists and officials have since called for sustainable peace – arguing that the current stability is temporary since the civilian population is heavily armed.