The United Nations Mission in South Sudan is actively working alongside them to help rebuild confidence and create an environment where people can live together peacefully.
As part of these efforts, a two-day workshop, involving 81 local authority and community representatives, was held to discuss ways to prevent violence through strengthening security and governance processes, building resilience, and improving service delivery and the restoration of necessary infrastructure.
The fundamental question was: how can they act together to secure a better future?
Akobo County Commissioner, John Wiyual, explained how conflict has divided communities along political lines.
“This workshop is crucial to our community it brings us all together to resolve differences and reconcile.”
For women, the conflict has resulted, not only in the loss of loved ones, but also livelihoods.
Akobo Women’s Association representative, Mary Nyathun Kheer, described how revenge killings and displacement had devastated the area, with many women returning after the conflict to find their businesses and other sources of income destroyed.
“Humanitarian aid has helped some return, but peace is essential for rebuilding.”
Youth have also suffered significant harm.
"Youth in Akobo who fled the conflict went to Ethiopia without food or medicine. More people have died after the conflict due to starvation and lack of medical supplies than during the fighting. We urgently need peace,” said Akobo Deputy Youth Leader, Tayin Deng.
Geni Payam Administrator, Bub Gatbel, also expressed concern about a lack of access to healthcare and other essential services for vulnerable people as well as perception of unequal treatment.
"We are all South Sudanese and deserve equal treatment," he stated while urging political leaders to resolve differences through dialogue and progress the implementation of the peace agreement.
Traditional leaders also see reconciliation as central to rebuilding trust.
“We are coming together to solve our problems. It is difficult to bring people together,” said Akobo Paramount Chief, Thou Deng Gol. “UNMISS has played an important role in assisting us as an impartial partner for peace that is trusted by all sides.”
“Our aim is to strengthen early-warning systems and improve communication among communities so they can peacefully address grievances and prevent revenge attacks. We are committed to continuing all efforts to support locally led peacebuilding initiatives,” assured UNMISS Civil Affairs Officer, Khalif Farah.
Participants made a series of resolutions at the conclusion of the workshop, including to strengthen peace messaging, address outstanding blood-compensation cases, improve engagement with neighbouring communities, and establish a Peace Committee to improve reconciliation and early-warning efforts.
This commitment marks just the start of a much-longer process.
Success will depend on the willingness to replace revenge with dialogue, navigating political differences nonviolently, and rebuilding trust through continuous conversations and inclusive approaches to peacebuilding.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
This website uses cookies.
