The coming together of cattle keepers and the farmers within Central Equatoria to dialogue should be taken seriously to yield fruits.
When the herder-farmer dialogue is conveyed, meaningful conversations are expected to heal wounds created by the previous conflict.
The conference between farmers and cattle keepers convened in Terekeka must ensure proper use of available resources by the citizens of Central without any disputes or wrangles.
It must be a venue to discuss the reality rather than a cover-up or finger-pointing space, as it has been in some of the government conferences.
The government of Central Equatoria has yet again attempt to resolve the conflict between farmers and cattle herders that has for a long time been a fixture in Juba and Terekeka counties.
But one question looms: will this effort succeed where so many others have failed?
This is not the first time such a dialogue has been held. Previous conferences promised grazing corridors, water points, and stricter laws for cattle camps. Yet, after the speeches faded and the tents came down, communities returned to familiar patterns: farms destroyed, cattle stolen, and lives lost.
The gap has never been in words, but in follow-up. Implementation of resolutions has been weak, violators often go unpunished, and political will fades once the spotlight moves elsewhere.
The governor’s unequivocal call for accountability and warning of punishment for violators sets this one apart somehow.
The emphasis on enforcement is a critical one, without which even the most well-intentioned dialogue becomes performative.
The burden now shifts to the communities themselves. Farmers must accept regulated grazing paths. Herders must respect farmland boundaries and disarm their youth. Chiefs and commissioners must enforce resolutions, not just endorse them.
If the outcomes of this conference are ignored, the cycle of violence will deepen, and the credibility of future initiatives will erode. But if implemented with honesty and courage, it could mark a turning point for Juba and Terekeka.
South Sudan cannot afford another failed dialogue. This time, the promises must hold.