Kiir, traditional chiefs meet to draw road map for ending ethnic violence

JUBA – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has on Thursday met traditional chiefs from the country’s Unity, Warrap and Lakes states in a bid to formalize strategy for ending communal violence in these states.

Ethnic violence in South Sudan has in recent years been a subject of international concerns on the consolidation of the peace following the signing of the revitalized peace agreement in 2018 which ended in February 2020 a seven-year-old conflict.

In a statement, the presidency said the South Sudanese head of state discussed a range of issues including ways to end ethnic violence in the three states.

“Thursday 27th May 2021- H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit met in his office, with the traditional leaders from Unity, Warrap and lakes States and discussed a wide range of issues affecting the communities at the grassroots,” the statement reads in part.

“The meeting discussed how to join the efforts to stop communal conflicts, enhance security and bring peace to the communities at the grassroots,” the presidency statement seen by Sudans Post added.

The statement further said the communal chiefs urged President Salva Kiir to organize an all-out disarmament campaign so that civilians do not find the way to perpetuate violence always brought by cattle rustling.

“The traditional leaders called upon His Excellency President Salva Kiir to conduct disarmament on the civil population to ensure that the guns are removed from the communities to end the bloodshed at the grassroots,” it said.

“The traditional leaders assured the President that they will work alongside with the National and States governments to ensure that the communities are disarmed,” the statement added.

It further said the traditional leaders “asked the President to again conduct ‘Wunlit Peace Conference Model’ to bring the communities together to dialogue for peaceful co-existence.”

“The Chiefs told the President that they are united at the grassroots as community leaders and they are working together for the welfare of their people regardless of the political differences at the national level.”