Governor Kok announced the initiative during discussions in Juba, highlighting the conference as a critical platform to address longstanding tensions and promote lasting coexistence between the two communities.
The Bor and Murle communities have faced recurrent conflicts, often driven by resource competition and historical grievances, which have destabilised parts of Jonglei State.
According to a statement released by the Office of the President, Kiir praised the proposed conference, describing it as a vital step toward achieving enduring peace in Jonglei. He urged stakeholders to prioritise dialogue-driven solutions as part of the nation’s broader journey toward healing and reconciliation.
The conference is expected to bring together community leaders, elders, and other key figures to discuss strategies for resolving disputes and building trust. Specific details about the date and venue of the event have yet to be disclosed.
The proposal by Gai comes a week after 600 members of the Murle community from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area embarked on a journey to Bor, the capital of Jonglei State, before continuing toward Pibor in what authorities considered a rare gesture signalling peace and unity.
The movement, the first of its kind in nearly two decades, demonstrated a promising step toward fostering peace and strengthening inter-communal ties in the region, according to a press release issued by the Jonglei State Ministry of Information and Communication.
The proposed conference by Governor Gai aims at cementing the relationship between the two communities.
In August 2016, the Bor and Murle peace conference aimed to foster reconciliation and peaceful co-existence between the two communities in Jonglei State, was held.
The conference, facilitated by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), provided a platform for traditional leaders to discuss grievances and find lasting solutions to conflicts arising from cattle raids, child abductions, and disputes over water and grazing land.
But nine years later, the practices remain prevalent. It is yet to be seen if the proposed conference by Governor Gai will unlock the potential of unity and peaceful co-existence between the two communities.
