Youth-led peace initiative in Pibor
The Greater Pibor Administrative Area this week hosts a cross-county retreat that gathers youth leaders from Twic, Bor, Duk and Lou Nuer. The meeting answers years of recurring cattle raids and revenge attacks that have strained relations across Jonglei.
Convened under Chief Administrator Gola Boyoi Gola, the summit adopts the banner ‘Break Barriers and Build Bridges for Peace and Development’. Organisers timed the opening with the UN-backed International Day of Peace, seeking both symbolism and momentum.
International Peace Day significance in South Sudan
Speaking to local media, Gola Boyoi argued that the Day’s eight pillars resonate locally, especially ‘good relations with neighbours.’ He noted that geography binds Bor Dinka and Murle communities permanently, adding, ‘we must learn to coexist; relocation is neither possible nor desirable’.
Youth voices urge reconciliation
Elijah Manyok, addressing the plenary for Jonglei Youth Associations, urged participants to reject cycles of retaliation. ‘Peace requires less energy and fewer resources,’ he said, pushing for forgiveness, cultural exchange and an end to abduction practices.
Strategic agenda for lasting stability
Workshop sessions invite frank discussions on grievances, security gaps and economic cooperation. Draft communiqués propose coordinated grazing routes, shared markets and joint early-warning teams, reflecting grassroots appetite for practical solutions beyond political rhetoric.
Analysts in Juba caution that funding and sustained mentorship will determine whether the retreat’s enthusiasm matures into durable mechanisms. However, the open dialogue itself is widely viewed as a critical step toward reducing deadly raids that have destabilised eastern South Sudan.