Rule of law and accountability conference between Jonglei and GPAA in Juba. January 21, 2025. (Photo: Koang Palchang/Eye Radio).

Jonglei State and Greater Pibor Administrative Area authorities have launched a conference on the rule of law and accountability as part of measures to deter the cycle of vicious inter-communal attacks characterized by cattle raids and abductions.

The conference – the latest in a series of initiatives that have struggled to make a meaningful impact – began in Juba on Tuesday and will take three days with representatives from the organized forces, police, wildlife conservation, and prisons, as well as ministers from Jonglei State and the Pibor Administrative Area, alongside civil society leaders and human rights activists.

GPAA Deputy Chief Administrator Alfred Omot – in remarks at the meeting – appealed to leaders of the two respective communities to reflect on their shared commitment and discuss productively.

Mr. Omot urged his fellows to share their expertise as communities at the frontline of the events to generate appropriate solutions.

“I call upon each of you to bring your expertise and your passion to the table. Let us challenge our assumptions and learn from one another and strive for solutions that reflect our shared commitment to the rule of law and accountability in GPAA and our sisterly Jonglei State,” he said.

On her part, Jonglei Deputy Governor Atong Kuol said the peace conference is of great importance, adding that its recommendations should implemented against individuals orchestrating the violence.

“The people who are involved in cattle raiding and abduction of children, are people or criminals who are loitering in the bushes,” she pointed out.

“If they are loitering in the bushes, how do we address this and how do we get to them? Because if we don’t know how to get to them, we will be having these meetings every now and then, every month, every year, and the acts continues.”

Atong suggested that the conference should find a way of identifying those behind the inter-communal violence and engage them in dialogue to end hostilities.

“Our focus, in my view, should be how to get these people, what they need to be part of this dialogue and what they need to even get the message of the things that we are doing.”

Guang Chong, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in South Sudan, urged the stakeholders to generate measurable resolutions to combat cattle raiding, child abduction and revenge attacks between Jonglei and Greater Pibor.

He said the conference serves as a roadmap for enhancing justice systems, reducing barriers to accountability and fostering trust within communities.

The conference is expected to come out with resolutions which the two communities will implement in order to peacefully co-exist.