Spiritual leader Gai Machiek with some of his bodyguards - Courtesy

A peace conference in Unity State has resolved to facilitate the return of spiritual leader Gai Machiek from Warap State to his home village in Mayom County.

On May 17 of this year, a presidential order relocated spiritual leader Gai Machiek, who was accused of fueling conflict between the neighbouring Twic and Ngok Dinka communities, to the border between Warrap and Northern Bahr el Ghazal.

Initially residing in Ajak Kuac Payam, east of Twic County, Machiek was moved to Pannyok Payam, west of Twic County. He had sought refuge in Ajak Kuac in 2020 during the flooding in Mayom County.

On Tuesday, Mayom County leaders convened a one-day meeting with community leaders, spiritual leaders, and stakeholders to address conflicts, promote peace, and unite various factions.

According to the Press Secretary in the Unity State governor’s office, the dialogue highlighted rampant insecurity and inadequate coordination as barriers to peace, including ongoing cattle rustling.

Koh Koang noted that participants recommended deploying forces between Mayom and Twic to curb the cattle raider movement.

The meeting also resolved to pardon Gai Machiek and facilitate his return to Mayom County.

“We concluded our peace conference yesterday [July 30, 2024] and this conference aimed to find solutions to mitigation of the communal violence and some issues that are affecting people in terms of security and other challenges,” said Koang.

“The conference also discussed the return of Gai Machiek and the conflict of the cattle raiding from the youth that used to engage themselves with the neighbouring states,” he said.

Other recommendations include the return of stolen cattle to their rightful owners, total banning of blood compensation, and settlement of murder cases in a competent court of law.