By Louis Loku
The Governor of Jonglei State, Dr. Riek Gai Kok, on Monday led a reconciliation meeting with members of the Malual community in Kolnyang as part of the state government’s ongoing efforts to end the communal conflict between the Malual and Abang communities and restore lasting peace.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Riek urged residents to embrace forgiveness, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence, stressing that revenge and continued violence would only undermine development and social harmony.
He called on the people of Malual to work together with neighboring communities to rebuild trust and strengthen unity, saying sustainable peace can only be achieved through dialogue, mutual respect, and collective responsibility.
“The future of our communities depends on our willingness to forgive one another and choose peace over conflict,” Governor Riek said, encouraging residents to reject retaliation and support the government’s reconciliation initiatives.
The reconciliation meeting brought together the Commissioner of Bor County, Hon. Samuel Ateny Pech, state government officials, traditional chiefs, youth representatives, women leaders, and members of the Malual community.
During the meeting, community leaders reaffirmed their commitment to ending hostilities and pledged to promote peaceful coexistence, free movement of people, and stronger cooperation among all residents of the area. They also expressed their readiness to work closely with the government in implementing resolutions aimed at preventing future conflicts.
Governor Riek announced that a similar reconciliation dialogue with the Abang community will be held later this week as part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen trust between the two communities and consolidate peace across Kolnyang.
He emphasized that engaging both communities separately before bringing them together would help address grievances, build confidence, and lay the foundation for a comprehensive peace agreement.
In a related development, Bor County Commissioner Hon. Samuel Ateny Pech presided over the installation of a new chief for the Malual community. The appointment was described as an important step toward strengthening traditional leadership and supporting local peacebuilding efforts.
The installation ceremony highlighted the government’s recognition of the vital role traditional authorities play in conflict resolution, community mobilisation, and maintaining social cohesion at the grassroots level.
The reconciliation initiative forms part of the Jonglei State government’s continuing efforts to resolve communal disputes through dialogue, restore stability in conflict-affected areas, and promote unity among communities across the state.