A civil-military dialogue commenced in Lainya County of Central Equatoria State on Wednesday with calls for peaceful co-existence.
The dialogue was facilitated by the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization in Loka West Boma of Kenyi Payam to mend relations between civilians and the army.
Over 50 community leaders, women, youth, local officials, religious leaders, and members of the military representing the SSPDF are attending the event under the Reconciliation, Stabilization, and Resilience Trust Fund in South Sudan.
Speaking at the forum, Lainya County commissioner, Emmanuel Khamis Richard said the dialogue provides a platform to discuss ways of rebuilding fractured social cohesion and trust between civilians and the military.
“As chiefs you can choose a day and visit the army barracks and create channels of communication with the army so that if a civilian is arrested you can be notified. The chiefs should always lead by example,” he said, according to a press statement from CEPO.
Khamis also urged the army to allow the free movement of civilians to encourage refugees and internally displaced people to return home.
“Each and everyone have a role to play and one of the things that can boost the return of the population is free movement,” he said, adding “There are people using bikes along the road, let them move. This is an order from today, let there be free movement along the roads. Don’t frighten the population.”
Loka West Boma was badly hit and affected by numerous insurgencies such as that of the armed opposition forces, National Salvation Front (NAS), and cattle keepers.
Malish John Scopas, the Project Officer for CEPO in Lainya said the three-day dialogue will boost social cohesion and stabilize politically divided communities, returnees, and the host communities.
“This civil-military dialogue will promote sustainable security, peace, and development by creating a peaceful and conducive environment for the returnees and IDPs to return to Loka west Boma and rebuild their lives,” he remarked.
Malish, however, said CEPO seeks to support locally driven solutions led by religious and community leaders who are influential in resolving local conflicts.
“The event will restore trust and confidence between civilians and the military,” he said.
On April 7, 2023, a similar civil-military dialogue took place in Kajo-Keji County and recommended justice and accountability for crimes against civilians by members of the armed forces.
The dialogue concluded with signing an agreement between the Kajo-Keji community and SSPDF’s Grand Force Battalion Two on the resolution of the civil-military relationship in the area.
In the resolutions, the two sides agreed to forgive each other on issues around civil-military differences.