Participants from Pakam and Luacjang communities pose for a photo after signing a resolution on cessation of hostilities in Tonj South County, on Wed, 28 June 2023. Photo: Warrap State Ministry of Information and Communication. | Photo: Courtesy

A peace dialogue between Luacjang and Pakam communities has resolved to cease all forms of cross-border hostilities between the neighboring populations from Lakes and Warrap states.

The two-day conference held in Tonj South County brought together the traditional leaders, heads of cattle camps, lawmakers and intellectuals from both communities.

According to the resolutions, the two parties decried proliferation of firearms in the hand of unauthorized persons, cattle theft and cattle raiding as the major causes of conflict.

Others factors contributing to the conflicts include land dispute despite it’s adjudication by law, road ambushes and targeted killings.

Revenge attacks and violence related to absence of accountability as well as lack of seasonal cattle migration agreements between the two communities were also some of the root causes of violent conflict as they underscored.

Warrap State Minister of Peacebuilding Piol Buoi said the conference called for an immediate end to inter-communal violence.

“The main resolution that they signed is a cessation of hostility, so that the conflict between these two communities must stop immediately,” he said.

“It is going to be the responsibility of paramount chiefs, executive chiefs and heads of cattle keepers and intellectuals from both sides to take a control and take the initiative to mobilize their members who did not attend the conference so that they can work together to bring tension to an end.”

The two communities agreed to stop all forms of conflicts, including targeted killings, cattle raiding and cattle theft.

They also proposed to cease social media propaganda and phone conversation that incite and also allow free movement of people across the border.

When contacted by Eye Radio, Beny Matur Mathiang, Lakes State Minister of Peace building confirmed that the talks agreed on a number of issues except for two key points.

Matur said the two communities failed to agree on the status of contested Aloor payam and on where to deploy security forces to prevent future crimes between the two states.

“What they have agreed and signed is a cessation of hostilities so that they can have a free movement. But they did not agree on some of the resolutions they were supposed to signed and therefore they did not sign them,” he said.

“There was a demand from Luacjang community that there is a place called Aloor it is one of the areas claimed from both side but it is currently one the Payam to Rumbek north County so that payam is being occupied by Pakam at the moment but it is contested area according to them.”

“So they said if they want to sign a resolution, this place have to be evacuated it has to be put as a butter zone nobody should be allowed to stay in there that is one of the resolution they did not agreed on.”

According to Minister Matur, the disputed border payam between Lakes and Warrap is critical for settlement and cattle grazing.

He added that the area is a well-structured payam that contain a school, a police station and a local government administrator who reports to the  authorities of Lakes State.

The two-day dialogue which ended on Wednesday was under the theme; “rebuilding trust, rekindling unity, a journey towards lasting harmony.”