Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The residents of Torit County in Eastern Equatoria State convened a day-long, community-led peace dialogue on Wednesday to address local conflicts and reinforce social cohesion at a time when rebel attacks are intensifying across the region.
The initiative sought to foster unity, enhance community resilience, and create a stable environment conducive to development.
The symposium, organised by the Support Peace Initiative Development (SPIDO) with funding from development partners, brought together community leaders, youth representatives, clergy, and local authorities.
According to organisers, the dialogue is part of a broader effort to equip communities with the skills and platforms needed to resolve disputes peacefully.
Wodcan Saviour Lazarus, Executive Director of SPIDO, said the event aimed to boost the capacity of community members to engage in constructive conflict resolution and strengthen local peacebuilding structures.
“The dialogue is about peace and development, and we look at issues affecting society in terms of peace and security. The community here calls for the provision of security; they call for land demarcation so that they can access services,” Lazarus said.
Youth leader John Sabachio Kolang Solomon from the Mairo area explained that the forum was an important opportunity for residents to identify root causes of tensions and collectively chart solutions that open pathways to development.
“The main issue is about peace and development. We have a lot of challenges; we need roads to be opened up, we need security to be provided, we need development, and we also need other services,” he said.
The parish priest of St. Peter Church, Jacob Odwa, described the dialogue as essential for addressing the local disputes that have hindered progress in Torit County.
“The primary issue the community faces is conflict. People have called for peace; the peace in Mairo is vital because many of them are farmers. With peace, development can be achieved,” Odwa stated.
Emmanuel Justin, a Member of Parliament in the Eastern Equatoria State Legislative Assembly, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to work with communities to restore peace and stability.
“We are here holding a dialogue in the Mairo area. The community wants peace; they are farmers and seriously need security. They have requested peace to pave the way for development,” he said.
The peace dialogue unfolded against the backdrop of a growing insurgency in Eastern Equatoria, a state that until recently was considered one of South Sudan’s more stable regions.
Over the past months, the area has witnessed escalating attacks carried out by factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) and the National Salvation Front (NAS).
In September, SPLA-IO gunmen stormed the National Security Service office in Kapoeta South County at dawn, critically injuring five officers in an attack that later spread to a nearby SSPDF barracks, triggering local unrest.
The situation was further strained following the withdrawal of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) from Torit in October due to global funding constraints, leaving communities without a key stabilising presence.
Tensions peaked on November 18, 2025, when joint SPLA-IO and NAS forces attacked the Torit Military Hospital and surrounding areas, killing a police captain who also served as Torit County’s Deputy Inspector of Police. Governor Louis Lobong condemned the assault as a declaration of war against both the state and its citizens.
With rebel activity rising and UN peacekeepers gone, community members say dialogues of this nature are critical for preventing the escalation of local disputes and strengthening collective resilience as Eastern Equatoria faces mounting security pressures.
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