Traditional spiritual leaders, referred to as “spear masters” have concluded a two -day peace dialogue in Rumbek, urging for an end to the cycles of revenge killings, cattle theft, road ambushes and excessive drinking of alcohol in Lakes State.
Speaking during the conference organized by TOCH, with funding from the Swiss Development Cooperation, the leaders said they will continue their campaign of peace and unity across the state.
The conference brought together spear masters from Warrap and Lakes State, Tonj East, Tonj South, Cueibet and the greater Rumbek counties.
Daniel Laat Kon, Lakes State Coordinator for the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), a participant at the conference, expressed concern over the recurring raids and revenge killings. He called for communities to live in harmony and respect human dignity.
“Looking at the developments during the two days conference, it is very easy to tell that the conversations are around conflict, causes and solutions. I condemn those that have been involved in raids and revenge killings, and urge for peace and unity in the state,” Kon said, adding that each individual has a role to play in maintaining cohesion in the community.
Madhang Adel, a spiritual leader from Laucjang in Tonj East County of Warrap State said the country is at a centrestage and needs peace to progress to the next level. He said the spiritual leaders and spear masters were mobilized from Rek, Luacjang, Gok and Agar to promote peace and stability in Bahr el Ghazal region.
” We don’t want anybody to have a conflict with the other. Perpetrators of violence should face the full force of the law. Bahr el Ghazal region mut be a place of peace and harmony.”
For his part, Machar Dhuol, a spiritual leader from Rumbek urged Lakes State Governor Madhang Majok to take a front lead in championing unity in the state. He said the state has experienced relative calm and the governor should continue to stabilize the region.
“The new governor should lead from the front to stabilize Lakes State just like it has been during the administration of his predecessor. The state has maintained peace and people have been united. Now that we have a new governor, we want this situation to be maintained,” he said.
The leaders said they will move across the state, from Luacjang, Rek, Gok among others, to disseminate peaceful coexistence between Lakes and Warrap States.
