Almost one year since the Pieri agreement, persistent provocations undermine the stability needed for both humanitarian and development assistance. Simplified narratives characterise this as one community’s youth uncontrolled and wreaking havoc across the area. The reality is more complex in both sides, and a series of intra-communal dialogues is underway to identify internal levers for the inter-communal peace.
The inter-communal peace process in Greater Jonglei and Pibor is endlessly fraught, and yet holding. The second meeting of the inter-communal governance structures, launched in Bor in October, took place in Pibor from 18-20 December.
Although the conversation on cattle migration typically a male-dominated one, this year’s Dinka Agar internal cattle migration conference provided a platform both for women’s representation, and also the voices of young women who have an agenda for their community in this part of the country.
As tensions increase with the onset of the dry season and ongoing criminal attacks, leaders of Lou, Gawaar Nuer and Murle met in Kongor 22-26 November to discuss practical steps that can be taken in the crucial weeks ahead.
Although the two communities are geographically non-contiguous, they have been in direct conflict with each other. These meetings in Gumuruk and Ayod, with the support of the Jonglei State Government and GPAA, were the first time for the leadership of the two communities to meet on a peaceful footing.
By the closing day of the inception workshop for the inter-communal governance structures, the tone had noticeably shifted. The tendency to revert to the blame game steered back towards a collective responsibility for the peace…
Juba Coordination Office
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