Road rehabilitation brings peace among warring communities in Eastern Equatoria

Kapoeta – The rehabilitation of a road by Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), with support from the World Food Programme (WFP), has significantly contributed to fostering peace among previously warring communities in Eastern Equatoria State.

This initiative highlights how infrastructure development can play a vital role in conflict resolution and enhancing community relations.

The Executive Director of Kapoeta North County  Saverio Pasquale noted that the road rehabilitation has connected the Toposa and Buya communities, fostering interaction and economic activity.

“It has connected us now with Budi County. It is now okay; the road is normal and passable. Cars can now go through, and even our neighbors can come this way, bringing their animals to the market. This is wonderful! We are very happy now. The two communities are interacting and moving normally,” he said during a media visit to Kapoeta organized by WFP to showcase its projects in Greater Kapoeta.

The Executive Director also acknowledged the critical role played by partners in promoting peace and creating livelihood opportunities to improve the financial independence of community members.

Lovok Lepeter, NPA’s Project Officer for Asset Creation and Livelihood, explained the objectives of the road project.

“The road is roughly 30 kilometers long and takes about one hour to drive. As I mentioned before, we have three objectives. One is to boost trade between the two communities,” he said.

“The second is to ensure peaceful coexistence between the Larim of Budi County and the Toposa of Kapoeta North. The third is to ease accessibility for both communities, allowing them to interact with each other,” he added.

He further explained that the road, which connects Kalunyor and Napak, was developed as part of a community initiative under the Pastoral Food for Asset project in 2022.

Currently, the initiative is being implemented under the Asset Creation and Livelihood program, with ongoing activities that have yielded significant benefits for the communities.

“This year, peace has prevailed because of the road,” Lepeter said.

In recent years, the Toposa and Buya communities experienced frequent conflicts, including revenge killings and cattle raids.

Lepeter noted that these issues stemmed from the lack of connection between the communities, but peace conferences and the newly constructed road have facilitated peaceful coexistence.

“With the peace conferences and the infrastructure we have already created, the two communities are currently moving freely and conducting their activities without any interference,” he said.

Peter Akoto, a road user, expressed his appreciation for the road’s impact, stating, “This road has brought many benefits to us. Since it was established, we have seen peace between us and Buya.” He explained how the road has improved movement and trade, allowing the Buya community to travel for supplies and enabling peaceful interactions.

Akoto also highlighted additional advantages: “Before, our children could get lost in the bush. They would search for them until maybe the next day, but now, if they get lost, they can find the road and are able to relocate themselves.”

He urged the government and partners to maintain the road to prevent it from becoming unusable again.

“The road has given us peace and good interaction with Buya. There are no problems with Buya now,” he added.

The road rehabilitation project by NPA and WFP in Eastern Equatoria State serves as a powerful example of how infrastructure development can transform conflict-affected areas into spaces of peace and opportunity.

By physically linking communities, the initiative has bridged emotional and social divides, setting a model for future peacebuilding efforts.

Decades of intercommunal violence between the Buya and Toposa communities have primarily been fueled by cattle raids, revenge killings, and competition over natural resources such as water and grazing land.

These conflicts have caused significant instability, especially for vulnerable groups like women and children. However, initiatives like this road rehabilitation project offer hope for lasting peace and development in the region.