Acholi and Ma’di pledge to make peace

21 Apr 2012

Acholi and Ma’di pledge to make peace

20 April 2012 - Following a three-day conference in the capital Torit, the Acholi and Ma'di tribes of Eastern Equatoria State today released a signed communique vowing to cease hostilities.

"This conference is a good beginning to bridge the gaps that existed between the two communities," said Anjelo Voga, chairman of the Ma'di delegation to the conference. "To stop hostilities it is very important to ease tensions."

In the three-page communique, the two communities also pledged to continue holding bilateral talks in negotiating and settling their differences as well as seeking lasting peace.

They called on the state government to investigate the 2010 and October-November 2011 confrontations between them in bringing the perpetrators of the violence to justice.

The communique requested the state government and UN agencies to aid the safe return of internally displaced persons who fled the violence.

Acknowledging the success of the conference, Acholi delegation chairman Dr. Stanslam Okot Luri said that it had created confidence between the two communities to interact freely.

"In the future, the government should act swiftly to stop violence and damage," he advised.

Closing the event, State Governor Brigadier General Louis Lobong Logere congratulated the two communities for their willingness to promote peaceful coexistence.

He committed the support of his government to promote peace among the communities.

UNMISS, the UN Development Programme, state Inter-Church Committee and other organizations were instrumental in initiating peace building efforts between the two communities.