The Civil affair division of the United Nations mission (UNMISS) in South Sudan is running a peace conference lasting a fortnight in Leer, Koch and Mayendit County all in Southern Unity State to halt cattle raiding and revenge killings among the neighboring counties.
Unity state civil affair officer Sunday Jial told Juba Echo that, the peace conference began on Tuesday in Leer town and will eventually be rolled out to other places set to benefit from this arrangement.
“The peace conference kicked off yesterday in Leer town and we did it in Mayendit Rupkuai Payam, In the conference we invited 25 main representatives from each County and the total participants including the host community were 700 people in the conference Hall.” Jial told Juba Echo during an interview in Leer town.
Jilal said that, the conference which attracted attendance from religious, political and traditional leaders as do the civil servants, youth groups and others witnessed the return of 12 raided cattle back to their owners by Leer and Mayendit County commissioners as well as the freeing of two suspected cattle rustlers arrested in Koch by the Koch County commissioner.
“Many people trusted this peace conference because the three neighboring commissioners Leer and Mayendit handed over 12 raided cattle to owners and Koch deputy commissioner also released two suspected raiders and handed them to Leer county commissioner yesterday. They agreed and ironed out their issues.” He added.
The civil affair officer promised that, they will continue to expedite this kind of community peace conference to allow unhindered movement of civilians among the neighboring counties of Southern Unity of Leer, Koch and Mayendit Counties.
Mr. James Kai a 39yr old youth representatives in Leer County expressed gratitude to UNMISS civil affair division for successfully organizing the first ever community peace conference in Southern unity and believes the peace conference grant free movement among the youths and traders in the neighboring counties.
“We have discussed our grievances and we are now peaceful with each other regardless of what happened in the past eight years in the conflict, there will be no more cattle raiding, revenge attack and killing because we have learnt a lot in this peace conference.” Kai promised.
