South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Andrea Arop Malek
The Adhoc committee for peace and reconciliation in greater Bahr el Ghazal region has commenced inquiry into the root causes of communal conflicts in Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
The conflict between the Partit community and Jur river community over the naming of the recently inaugurated Clement Mboro Bridge has been deeply concerning to the government, and also the long- running conflict between Ngok Dinka of Abyei Administrative Area and Twic Mayardit community of Warrap State over land remains major concern to the government.
The chairperson of greater Bahr el Ghazal peace and reconciliation committee, Dr. Riek Gai Kok, said during the three-day consultative meeting held in Juba on Thursday, that their primary task is to conduct consultative meetings with all the communities affected by inter communal violence in the region.
He noted that they aim to identify the root causes of the conflicts and propose solutions to ending the conflicts to the government.
“The committee shall initiate dialogue among the communities, and ensure that their grievances are settled through community- based processes and where appropriate, the committee may recommend to the government and communities alternative interventions to ensure peace and reconciliation,” Gai told journalists at the end of the consultative meeting on the conflict in Wau.
The committee was set up in May, 2024 by President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
The committee has the authority to coopt any relevant member or expert and it is expected to complete it’s work and report back to the president within 90 working days.
Other members of the committee include Makiir Gai Thiep, Martison Mathew Oturmoi, retired Anglican Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul , Ambassador Garang Ding Akuany, Anthony Charles and Bor Philip.
The committee is expected to leave juba for Western Bahr el Ghazal State, Warrap, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State and Abyei Administrative Area.
