By James Innocent
In an effort to foster peace and collaboration in Greater Yei, Fin Church Aid (FCA) organized a two-day dialogue for peace committees from Kajo-Keji, Morobo, Lainya, and Yei River County.
The conference aim to enhance collaboration among the four counties and promote peaceful coexistence. It ended on Thursday in Yei River County headquarters.
During the meeting, the Rt. Reverend Data Amosa, Bishop of Morobo Diocese, extended his gratitude to all partners involved for facilitating session.
He emphasized that it was important for the people to unite and communicate in achieving lasting peace among the four counties.
As a result of the discussions, participants arrived at several critical resolutions aimed at addressing the prevailing issues in the area.
Among the resolutions was the need to relocate of cattle herders to minimize conflicts over grazing and land.
The participants also resolve that a committee be formed to engage with the state government to ensure that concerns from the communities are addressed at higher administrative levels.
They also encouraged media house to enhance awareness and inform the populace about peace initiatives and the need for dialogue.
Establishing a court martial to handle military misconduct and related issues in a structured manner was another resolution of the meeting.
The encourage the promotion of community dialogue to build trust and enhance cooperation among residents.as well as advocate for relocation of military units to other states to reduce tensions.
They leaders further reignite the need to implement ban on tree logging and charcoal burning to protect the environment and promote sustainable practices.
The meeting proposed the need to transfer of army personnel to avoid disputes and ensure a peaceful coexistence.
James Mugwo, the Team Leader of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), commended FCA for organizing the two-day workshop with support from the trust fund.
He underscored the instrumental role played by the peace committees in engaging both the military and civilian populations in Yei River County.
Their efforts have been significantly aided by the paramount chief, who has successfully negotiated the release of over 60 individuals previously in detention.
Mugwo highlighted the essentiality of peace committees, recognizing their capability to mitigate conflict situations.
He pointed out their proficiency in peacebuilding, which enables them to educate citizens even at the Boma level—contributing to grassroots stability and understanding.
Furthermore, the Director General for Administration and Finance of the National Ministry of Peacebuilding, Anthony Angu, commended the Yei River County Commissioner for facilitating the dialogue with the four peace committees.
He reaffirmed the peace committees’ readiness, emphasizing their experience in raising community awareness about peace initiatives.
Angu urged the commissioner to coordinate with partners involved in livelihood and agricultural support, ensuring a holistic approach to peacebuilding.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Emmanuel Taban Seme of Yei River County encouraged the peace committees to document their resolutions.
He stressed the importance of sharing these findings with fellow commissioners to elevate discussions to the state level effectively.
In closing, Emmanuel reminded the peace committees of their pivotal roles. He urged them to disseminate the knowledge gained from the training among community members, inspiring collective action towards achieving a real and lasting peace.
He reiterated the county’s primary objective of maintaining security and peace, especially under the new commissioner’s leadership.
This includes ensuring that arrests and detentions of civilians are conducted lawfully and cooperatively, with the support of local leaders who ensures that established procedures are followed in law enforcement.