Community leaders of the greater Tonj area have recently concluded a reconciliation conference held at Kanaf in Tonj South County.

The conference resolutions included a recommendation to empower county commissioners to arrest people suspected of committing murder or theft – a measure aimed at quelling cattle raiding.

“Commissioners are empowered to arrest individuals who incite violence, encourage theft and promote social discord among the communities; this will end negative influence of some spiritual masters prone to this practice,” says the document.

Another resolution recommended that troops be stationed at Meshara/Akop in order to deter violence along the Warrap-Unity border.

Reconciliation and dialogue

The Kanaf conference has also resulted in a decision to form committees headed by Tonj community leaders to “move down to grassroots, especially in Ananatak to enhance dialogue and facilitate reconciliation among Tonj communities that are in conflict with each other.”

They resolved for traditional reconciliation ceremonies also to be held “to enable spiritual leaders to promote healing and mutual acceptance of each other as brothers and sisters.”

Participants pointed to the youths at cattle camps as potential instigators of violence and urged civil society and development organizations to “educate the youth on the rule of law, human rights and good governance.”