South Sudan Peace Building Initiative in Juba
The Christian Agency for Peace and Development (CAPaD), partnering with the Canadian Embassy in Juba through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), has launched a peace building initiative to restore trust between Murle and Dinka Bor youth.
The initiative is framed around peace and security, with an emphasis on conflict prevention and approaches designed to support sustainable peace building among affected communities.
Murle–Dinka Bor Tensions and Community Priorities
By engaging young people and local communities, the project targets long-standing tensions linked to cattle raiding, road ambushes and communal violence. Organisers say the goal is to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, and to promote cattle as a livelihood asset rather than a trigger for conflict.
National Ministry of Peace Building Calls for Dialogue
At a peace symposium in Juba themed “Restoring Trust, Promoting Peaceful Coexistence,” Diang Bichok, Acting Director for Planning, Peace Monitoring and Evaluation at the National Ministry of Peace Building, urged renewed commitment to unity and dialogue.
Diang Bichok said recurring cattle raiding, retaliatory attacks and insecurity continue to disrupt livelihoods, social relations and freedom of movement. He linked the conflict to historical grievances, weak communication and the manipulation of youth identities during periods of instability.
He added that communities in South Sudan share values of unity and cultural diversity, encouraging citizens to nurture peace through honesty, empathy and mutual understanding. Diang Bichok also commended CAPaD and its partners, including the Canadian Embassy, for supporting grassroots peace work.
CAPaD Strategy: Grassroots Trust and Social Cohesion
CAPaD Executive Director Peter Malith argued that lasting peace must begin with individuals and communities. He said peace is difficult to sustain where divisions persist or where people fail to commit to shared national interests.
Peter Malith described the partnership with the Canadian Embassy as important for deepening grassroots engagement, trust-building and social cohesion, including in fragile areas such as Mongiri and Bor.
Greater Pibor Dialogues Target Raiding and Abductions
David Jiji Lomodong, Coordinator of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, said peace dialogues in Mongiri brought together civilians, youth and members of the military to discuss cattle raiding, child abduction and road ambushes.
David Jiji Lomodong called on communities to take responsibility for peace by focusing on root causes and implementing agreed resolutions. He framed peace as requiring action, unity and collective responsibility.