Warrap State mulls peace conference after civil disarmament
By James Chatim
Warrap State Minister of Information, Mamer Bath, said plans are underway to conduct a peace conference after the ongoing civilian disarmament
He said the State authorities will embark peace peace-building conferences with neighboring States, including Abyei, for peace to prevail in the area.
In an interview with The City Review yesterday, Minister Bath said that disarmament was the first stage to bring calm and silence to guns among local communities.
He said that after the State restores the significant peace required, the government will now go to the next stage, which is peace building
“You know, for the peace to begin, the first stage of peace is to cease fire. And after ceasing fire, then now you will come to the second stage, which is the peace building.”
This is the development of peace itself, where you bring all the people, you now put and lay down some mechanisms, some rules to be followed. So, that peace must come as a permanent peace,” said Bath.
He also stated that the peace process requires all the stakeholders, such as the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and other partners, to actively support grassroots peace building, engage in conflict resolutions and stabilize conflict-affected areas.
“We involve our peace partners because the government, as you have seen, we have been struggling with the insecurity, the insecurity of the entire state. So, there are some points where there will be a need for help from our partners so that they can support peace,” said Minister Bath.
Peace building has the potential to bring permanent peace to Warrap State by addressing the root causes of conflict, such as cattle raiding, ethnic tensions, and socioeconomic disparities, through community engagement, reconciliation, and sustainable development initiatives. However, its success is dependent on a shift from forced disarmament to inclusive, community-led strategies that build trust, provide security through civil means and involve women and youth as critical partners in the peace process.
