Peace dialogue held in Rumbek East

27 Feb 2016

Peace dialogue held in Rumbek East

Over 60 participants recently attended a one-day peace conference organized by UNMISS in Rumbek East.

Some 65 members from the Gony and Thuyic communities, which have a long history of revenge killings, took part in the dialogue held on 21 February.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, UNMISS Head of Field Office, Kwame Dwamena-Aboagye, said the Mission has a responsibility to ensure that inter-communal conflicts are contained through reconciliation.

“UNMISS is very happy to support the leaders of this state in organizing this very important meeting between Gony and Thuyic,” he said. “We are going to support the government to ensure that there is peace and reconciliation between Thuyic and Gony and also peace between the Pakam, Ruop and Kuei.”

The State Secretary General, Martin Maciec, stressed that the conflict had affected social fabric between the two rivaling communities and urged them to embrace the peace initiative.

“This meeting is intended for peace and reconciliation among the Gony and Thuyic sections,” said Mr. Maciec. “These people have never been together since 1994 because of sectional fights but now they have been brought together for the purpose of peace.”

In the immediate aftermath of the August 2014 killing of the Gony Paramount Chief, renewed tensions escalated.

The two communities said the dialogue would lay a strong foundation for genuine peace to prevail.