Ethnic communities living in the Boma area were recently mobilized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan to perform joint cultural dances in a bid to promote peace and dialogue.

Tangible success was there for all to see, according to John Kaka, a young man who participated in the festivities.

“We use to fight and kill ourselves during youth fighting, but today that is not the case. We are one people and we need peace and development within our community”, he said.

A member of the largest Murle subgroup, the Bototnya, John believes that the UNMISS-initiated peace and cultural festival was a good platform to reconcile and reunite youth of various ethnicities and communities in an area commonly plagued by violence.

Attended by hundreds of people from Pibor town and surrounding villages, the event was attended by the Murle, Anyuak, Jie , Kachipo and the Shilluk ethnic groups living in the area.

The Kabarize Women for Peace, a group largely made up of Murle women, also demonstrated nimble footwork as they joined the dancing performances at the Pibor cultural grounds, in earnest pursuit of jubilant harmony.

Rival Murle youth groups represented at the event included the Bototnya, Titi, and the Muden.

Boma’s acting Governor John Joseph Abolla appreciated the role of UNMISS in peace building in the area.

“I thanks the United Nations Mission in South Sudan for bringing the communities together and in particular the rival youth groups in the state to dance together and make peace among themselves,” he said.

The Head of UNMISS Field office in Greater Jonglei Region Deborah Schein also thanks all communities of Boma State for coming together as one people to promote peace and cultural diversity.