By Alan Clement
Jonglei State Governor Dr. Riek Gai Kok on Monday welcomed Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) Chief Administrator Gola Boyoi Gola in Bor ahead of a major peace conference.
In a statement from the State’s press unit, the conference is expected to bring together county commissioners, traditional authorities, youth leaders and community representatives from across the state.
According to the statement, Gola’s visit underscores renewed efforts by both administrations to deepen dialogue on reconciliation and strengthen joint initiatives aimed at ending recurrent intercommunal violence.
“We are committed to deepening dialogue and strengthening initiatives to end violence between our communities,” noted officials in a statement.
It noted that the upcoming conference will focus on long-standing grievances linked to cattle raiding, child abduction and revenge attacks, which have fuelled instability between communities in Jonglei and the GPAA.
The meeting of the leaders builds on a series of peace engagements held over recent years. Earlier in this year, Jonglei and GPAA leaders convened a three-day intercommunal forum that brought together chiefs, youth, women and religious leaders to review local peace structures and revive cross-border cooperation.
“We recommitted to coordinated security measures, including mobile peace teams in hotspot areas,” stressed the statement.
A subsequent dialogue in Uror County in July saw both sides recommit to coordinated security measures, including the deployment of mobile peace teams in hotspot areas.
These efforts follow previous county-level meetings in Ayod and Juba aimed at reducing civilian harm and rebuilding trust among communities separated by years of tension.
Although progress has been made, periodic flare-ups continue to disrupt the region, underscoring the need for sustained engagement.
It is worth noting that the renewed momentum echoes earlier landmark reconciliation efforts, including the historic Wunlit Peace Conference of 1999, which set a precedent for community-driven conflict resolution in the greater Upper Nile region
Governor Gai Kok has stressed the government’s responsibility to turn dialogue into meaningful action, insisting that peace agreements must translate into improved security and stability on the ground.
“Peace agreements must translate into improved security and stability on the ground,” stressed Governor Riek in a statement.
Chief Administrator Gola has similarly urged communities on both sides to act as “ambassadors of peace” and reject practices that perpetuate division.
“Let us act as ambassadors of peace and reject practices that perpetuate division,” said Chief Administrator Gola in a statement.
As preparations continue, the Jonglei leadership has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the conference’s resolutions are implemented effectively, emphasising that lasting peace will depend on continuous dialogue and active grassroots participation.
“Lasting peace will depend on continuous dialogue and active grassroots participation,” it concluded.