By Yang Ater Yang
Peace Canal has condemned fighting between the Kuei community of Rumbek Central County and the Pakam community of Rumbek North County, describing the violence as a painful setback to peace and unity among the Dinka Agar community.
Mary Arun Gol, Area Coordinator and Acting Peacebuilding Manager for Lakes and Warrap States, condemned the fighting that occurred in Rumbek Town on Friday.
She called on both communities to stop the violence and embrace dialogue, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence.
Gol said the fighting was a tragedy among communities that share the same land, history, culture, and identity.
She expressed sorrow over the loss of life and urged residents not to allow anger and revenge to fuel further violence.
“I strongly condemn this senseless violence and call upon both Kuei and Pakam communities to put down their weapons and embrace peace,” Gol said.
She stressed that no disagreement or misunderstanding was worth the loss of human life.
Gol also appealed to community members to consider the suffering of families who have lost loved ones and the lasting impact of violence on children and relatives.
She questioned the community’s future if disagreements continued to be settled through fighting rather than dialogue and forgiveness.
“Our land will remain, but the lives taken by violence cannot be brought back,” she said, urging the communities to protect one another and preserve their shared identity.
Gol called on elders, community leaders, youth, intellectuals, and other influential figures to take responsibility for restoring peace.
She urged them to encourage dialogue and reconciliation instead of revenge, warning against using deaths as justification for further attacks.
“One death should be a call to stop the violence, not a justification for another,” she said.
Despite the violence, Gol expressed hope that peace could be restored if both communities chose unity over division and forgiveness over revenge.
She said the fighting should not define the future of the Dinka Agar community, emphasising the need to protect lives and build a peaceful environment for future generations.
Peace Canal has been supporting peacebuilding efforts in the Greater Agaar community since 2020 through peace conferences, reconciliation initiatives, and community engagement.
The organisation has also worked to bring Gelweng youth together to promote peace, unity, and reconciliation across the Greater Rumbek area.
Gol called on the communities to protect civilians, avoid further bloodshed, and work together to restore calm in Rumbek Town.
She also prayed for the souls of those who lost their lives, comfort for grieving families, healing for the wounded, and wisdom for community leaders working toward reconciliation.
“Let peace prevail in Rumbek Town. Let peace prevail in Agar Land. Let peace prevail among Kuei, Pakam, and the entire Dinka Agar community,” she said.
She concluded by urging the communities to choose peace before more lives are lost, emphasising that lasting security and development depend on unity and peaceful coexistence.