Who will address the inter-communal conflicts in Tonj State?
By Madhieu Thiep Madhieu, Juba, South Sudan
February 29, 2016 (SSB) — A lot of precious lives have been lost as a result of inter communal or inter clans conflicts in different part of the present day Tonj state starting from 2003 until today. The culture of killing and reprisal attacks usually triggered by cases of elopements and pregnancies among others had never ceased in Tonj. People in Tonj continued to die in their thousands but no government seems to care for their death.
In 2015 alone, more than two hundred people got killed in inter communities clashes that occurred in Tonj East, Tonj North and Tonj South respectively. The government of former Warrap state responded swiftly at first and deployed huge military forces to diffuse the roaring atmosphere. Some arrest were made especially in Tonj East where the two ex-chiefs alleged to be the mastermind were apprehended and jailed up to date without legal procedures. They youths who were involved in confrontation went unpunished; no single culprit was arrested by the governor former Warrap. Only chiefs who didn’t fight and were accused of inciting two communities to fight remained in detention.
Today, another fighting has just erupted again in Tonj South County pitting the community of Muok against Thony section. Scores of people succumbed as a result of this clash and many herd of cattle looted. Since the beginnings of these inter communal conflicts in Tonj and other part of South Sudan some years back, the national government had been silent to address and bring to an end the rampant killings in the area. Neither the national government nor state authorities had ever devised appropriate measures to stop endemic problem.
The newly appointed governor of Tonj state had failed completely to investigate and address the root causes of clashes among Tonj communities, making it extremely difficult for the rival sections to refrain from act of violent. This had made me to ask a question that who will address Tonj will inter sectional fight, if both central and state leaders fail to resolve such clashes.
The below recommendations must be adopted to help resolve Inter communal clashes;
- The current leadership of Tonj state must be replace with the new person who be quick in investigating and addressing the conflict.
- Courts of law must be urgently establish to trial the criminal cases
- All the communities’ ought to be sensitizing on peace and reconciliation processes and spirit of living together.
- The governor who will be appointed must consult with communities on the appointment of commissioners so that wrong guys are not brought to lead the counties.
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