CEPO to establish panel of mediators to resolve communal dispute

JUBA – The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) said it is considering setting up a panel of national mediators to help resolve communal disputes in the country.

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director for Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) said Thursday the panel will comprise experts, faith-based leaders, academia, retired politicians, media experts, youth leaders, women leaders, and members of the business community.

“CEPO after several years of engagement and experiences on promoting peace dialogue among our conflicting communities today has taken up the decision of establishing a platform for promotion of peace and reconciliation among our communities,” Yakani said in a statement on Thursday.

Yakani said the panel will be tasked to facilitate dialogue and mediation between disputing communities to reduce hostilities and foster locally led solutions to communal disputes.

“The Panel of National Mediators will be officially and publicly named during the day of the official launching of the Panel of National Mediators in March 2024 in Juba,” Yakani said.

“During the event of the official launch of the Panel of National Mediators, the terms of reference for the PONM and code of conduct among other aspects will be made public,” he added.

The outspoken activist said the organization decided to create this panel of mediators following the rise in the deadly violence among communities as well as consistent failure to resolve the disputes.

“The reason that triggered the establishment of the Panel of National Mediators is the rise in the deadly violence in our communities across the country including the consistent failure of attempts for securing peaceful co-existence among our communities,” he said.

“The Panel of National Mediators will be a platform that translates generated accurate conflict early warming alerts into an effective early response for a developing violent situation.

“The PONM will be a hub of national individuals well prepared to undertake tasks of mediation, negotiation, and dialogues among our conflicting communities at any time required,” he concluded.