By Yiep Joseph
Jonglei State Governor, Mahjoub Biel Turuk has proposed establishment of a special court to try suspected criminals from within and the neighboring Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
This proposal comes amid persistent intercommunal violence between the two sides, despite numerous efforts by national and state governments, as well as international partners, to address the ongoing conflict.
Years of violence have seen a cycle of attacks, cattle raids, and child/women abductions, with few perpetrators brought to justice.
Both governments have often engaged in blame games following the incidents, with little accountability for the actions of their citizens.
In his address to the media, Governor Turuk stressed that the courts would deter future violence by holding criminals accountable and instilling a fear of legal consequences among youth involved in these destructive activities.
The governor admitted that be that, besides commitment from Jonglei and Pibor Administrator Area governments, raiding and other criminal activities continue to persist.
Besides empowering people to get alternative sources of wealth to avoid cattle raiding and other related crimes, the governor proposed a special court.
“The special we are talking about, in my discussion with the Chief Administrator of Greater Pibor Administrative Area Gola Boyoi Gola for people to fear, there is a need to establish a court,” he said.
“I am going to visit him (Gola) we talked initiative of establishing a court last time,” he added.
Mahjoub revealed that after deliberation, the two leaders would visit the Chief Justice to guide them on the way forward.
“We are going to visit Chan Reech to understand that the court needs to be established so that when someone commits a crime; they should be made accountable so that people fear.” He said.
“Our suggestions in Jonglei and Greater Pibor are that we need to ensure that people are made accountable,” he said.
The governor also added that the government would encourage education to ensure that most young people join school and become educated and that such a method would reduce youth involvement in violence.
He added that the continuous conflict continues to affect the residents of Jonglei as well as the Greater Administrative Area.
Mahjoub added that due to conflict, people lost lives, cattle, and children, which are sources of educational wealth.
He expressed that the problem in Jonglei is due to poverty and lack of education.
“The conflict between Jonglei and Pibor increased due to illiteracy, and illiteracy,
In November 2024, 22 people were killed when armed men attacked Pibor cattle traders at Mogeri, Juba County, Central Equatoria State.
After visiting the area of the incident, the governors of Jonglei and Central Equatoria states, along with the chief administrator of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, committed to a collaborative initiative to end intercommunal violence at their borders and killings along the Juba-Bor Road.