Historic dialogue blends tradition and peacebuilding
Rumbek, the capital of South Sudan’s Lakes State, hosted an unusual gathering this week: spear masters, the revered “masters of the fishing spear”, sat beside county officials to debate persistent revenge killings and cattle raids.
The dialogue, convened by The Organization for Children’s Harmony and Peace Canal with Swiss support, sought to blend ancestral spirituality with contemporary peace-building tools.
Officials call for joint action on crime
Rumbek Central County Commissioner Dut Manak urged participants to help “apprehend criminals and murderers, check cattle theft, and tackle alcohol abuse” (Commissioner Manak).
He warned that border zones between Cueibet and Rumbek Centre remain volatile and asked traditional leaders to start community dialogues before disputes escalate.
Spiritual leaders reject blame for violence
Cueibet spear master Makat Chuor distanced his peers from the bloodshed, claiming “traditional witchcraft and magicians” fuel conflict, not the spear masters themselves (Chuor).
He appealed to visiting ritual practitioners from neighboring states to leave Lakes State, arguing they trade sorcery for livestock and stoke tensions.
Mapping sacred authority for future engagement
Robert Mayom Malak of TOCH announced plans to document 108 spear masters across Lakes and Warrap, aiming to “disengage” any who aid raiders (Malak).
Previous consultations in Rumbek East and Tonj showed community appetite for clearer roles, suggesting traditional oaths could reinforce legal norms.
Communities demand decisive penalties
Cueibet spear master Lueth Chiec insisted thieves be captured by the state or face divine expulsion, adding some elders back summary execution for habitual raiders.
Der Makuer Gol of Rumbek Centre prayed publicly that killings and cattle theft “should not happen again,” underlining a shared resolve to restore normal farming life.