Dialogue Reopens Lines of Trust in Torit County
A one-day dialogue in Bur Payam, Torit County, has revived optimism that neighbours can again share roads, markets and water points without fear. Resident negotiators described the gathering as the first collective conversation since last year’s shootings.
Security reports attribute recent tension to cattle raids, arson and roadside ambushes that claimed lives and uprooted households across Eastern Equatoria State. Women’s groups also flagged a surge in gender-based violence during the unrest.
Youth at the Heart of the Rift
Sub-chief Peter Ogugu Andriko told this magazine that the feud centred on youths from Mutaraf and Osito who fought over missing herds and personal grudges, torching houses in the process.
He said both sides now ‘accept the peace’ after elders mediated overnight, marking the first verbal truce since August 2025, when clashes left several villagers injured and forced many to flee with nothing.
Peace Committee Balances Dialogue and Deterrence
Chairman Henry Oromo Egidio stressed that reconciliation must come with accountability. ‘If you break the law, prison awaits,’ he warned, adding that clear sanctions reassure survivors while honest talks heal the wider community.
The committee, formed after earlier fighting, uses local bylaws alongside national statutes, a model analysts say blends familiarity with legality and prevents vendettas from turning into protracted rebellions.
Regional and Global Partners Lend Support
Non-profit Support Peace Initiative and Development Organisation facilitated the gathering with funding from KOICA through UNDP, illustrating how modest grants can amplify grassroots problem-solving.
Felix Ewot, SPIDO’s peace-building officer, noted that cattle theft and sexual violence often intertwine, making multi-sector interventions essential. He called the dialogue ‘an ongoing process’ rather than a one-off ceremony.
From Resolutions to Daily Reality
Participants drafted a joint document covering compensation, patrol coordination and awareness campaigns in schools. Observers say implementing those clauses will test the resilience of the new accord during the upcoming dry-season migrations.
For now, residents celebrate small signals of normality: night-time drumming, reopened footpaths and children playing in fields once patrolled by gunmen. Many insist the greatest safeguard is keeping the conversation alive.