Jonglei Governor Riek Gai Kok holds hands with leaders of Twic East and Duk counties after the signing of a peace agreement in Bor. Credit: Office of the Governor.

The two conflicting communities of Ayual of Twic East County and Hol of Duk County in Jonglei State have agreed to end their long-running dispute by recommitting to a peace agreement aimed at restoring stability.

The renewed commitment was made during a three-day peace dialogue held in Bor, the Jonglei State capital, last week under the mediation of the Jonglei State Government’s High-Level Committee for the Resolution of the Conflict between Ayual and Hol.

The conflict began in 2023 and has claimed dozens of lives, displaced families, destroyed property, and disrupted movement and livelihoods since violence escalated in 2026.

According to resolutions issued after the meeting, the two communities reaffirmed their commitment to an immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities and pledged to resolve future disputes through peaceful dialogue instead of violence.

The parties also agreed to guarantee freedom of movement for people, goods, and services along both river and land routes, saying no individual or group should obstruct travel.

The conference appealed to the National Government and the Jonglei State Government to deploy security forces to establish buffer zones in identified hotspots.

The proposed deployment includes river locations at Biothagany, Lang, and Malou, and land positions at Wernyol and Ayueldit.

The communities agreed that the long-standing land and border disputes should be handled by a Special Court in line with South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution and the Local Government Act.

The court is also expected to determine compensation for lives lost and property destroyed during the conflict.

The agreement requires the commissioners, paramount chiefs, and head chiefs of Duk and Twic East counties to arrest and hand over all identified criminal suspects to the competent authorities within 14 days.

Failure to comply, the resolution says, will make the county and traditional leaders accountable.

The two communities also endorsed blood compensation for those killed during the conflict in accordance with customary law and other mutually agreed legal procedures to promote justice, reconciliation, and lasting peace.

The resolution urges community leaders, youth, women, traditional authorities, government institutions, and security agencies to support the implementation of the agreement.

Traditional and county authorities will jointly monitor compliance and address any violations through peaceful means.

Representatives of both communities signed the resolutions and pledged to uphold the agreement in the interest of peace, stability, reconciliation, and development in Jonglei State.