Two former governors of the now defunct Jonglei and Boma States, Philip Aguer and David Yau Yau respectively, came to Bor to say farewell to the peacekeeping mission’s Head of Field Office, Deborah Schein, who will retire at the end of the year and as private citizens used the visit to promote peace and reconciliation amongst their people.

“I am happy to return to my people, especially with my good friend David Yau Yau, to preach the message of peace and reconciliation among our different communities,” said Philip Aguer, both of whom arrived in Bor aboard one of the peacekeeping mission’s aircrafts. 

Deborah Schein, the outgoing head of the Jonglei State and Greater Pibor Administrative Area field office who has served on six peacekeeping missions, was extremely pleased to see the two former governors, with whom she has been liaising closely over the last few years, and recalled their efforts to promote peace amongst the people of greater Jonglei.

The two former governors praised Deborah Schein for her work, with Philip Aguer describing her legacy as “instrumental in facilitating peace efforts” and David Yau Yau hailing her “untiring efforts as a co-partner in peace initiatives and development issues for the people of Greater Jonglei.”

Philip Aguer and David Yau Yau used their time in Bor to consult with chiefs, women’s representatives, youth and community leaders on achieving peace between the six ethnic groups of Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.  Their message was simple: intercommunal clashes, cattle raiding, child abductions and revenge attacks must stop for there to be investment and development in Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.

The chiefs in Bor called for the youth purportedly in the bush to return to the Pibor area, and the chiefs would admonish their youth to refrain from hostile actions against their neighbours.  The discussions held yielded numerous recommendations, including the opening of the road between Bor and Pibor and the establishment of cattle markets in Anyidi and Manyabol, in Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area respectively.

Attending chiefs also requested Mr. Aguer and David Yau Yau to include Nuer representatives in future consultations along with the other ethnicities to ensure a sustainable and comprehensive peace.

They also visited internally displaced people having fled floods and intercommunal violence, and went for a walk through the market. One woman recognizing David Yau Yau said that her husband had died and that she had lost her children and appealed to the former governor to stop the violence.