The visit, conducted under the Inter-Communal Governance Structure (ICGS), brought together community leaders, youth representatives, women’s groups, and local authorities to address persistent tensions linked to cattle raiding, child abductions, and cycles of retaliatory violence between Jonglei and GPAA communities.
Speaking upon arrival in Bor on Tuesday, Riek said the meetings in Bicbic signalled renewed willingness among local actors to pursue peace but acknowledged that the real test lies in enforcing past agreements that have repeatedly failed to hold.
“My visit to Bicbic in GPAA was very useful because our communities are demonstrating strong support for peace,” he said, adding that the government must now ensure “effective law enforcement” to sustain the commitments reached.
The governor noted that the discussions reaffirmed key provisions from earlier peace deals, including cessation of hostilities, the return of abducted women and children, recovery of stolen cattle, and guarantees for free movement of people and goods. These issues have long been at the centre of recurring violence in the region.
However, despite years of similar agreements, implementation has remained inconsistent, often undermined by weak security presence, lack of accountability, and limited coordination between authorities on both sides.
Residents in Bor expressed guarded optimism following the latest initiative, with some welcoming the renewed dialogue while warning against a repeat of past failures.
“This peace initiative gives us hope, but we have seen many agreements before that were not fully implemented,” said Nhial Achiek, a Bor resident. “What we need now is action, especially on returning abducted children and stopping cattle raids.”
Achiek stressed that without visible enforcement measures, including protection of civilians and punishment of perpetrators, public confidence in peace efforts could erode further.
“If the government can enforce the law and protect civilians, then this peace will last. Otherwise, people will lose trust again,” he said.
The Bicbic mission is the latest in a series of attempts by state and local authorities to stabilise relations between Jonglei and GPAA, where inter-communal conflict has displaced thousands and strained fragile local governance systems.
While officials highlight renewed commitments from community leaders, the durability of the initiative will depend on whether authorities can translate agreements into sustained action on the ground.
