Central Equatoria, Joglei and Pibor unveil security plan to curb communal violence, protect livelihoods

JUBA – A high-level peace and security summit involving leaders of Central Equatoria State, Jonglei State, and the Pibor Administrative Area has adopted a new joint strategy aimed at curbing community violence, securing migration routes, and protecting livelihoods across the three regions.

The move seeks renewed efforts to cooperate in preventing cattle-related conflict, child abductions, and insecurity that continue to destabilise border communities and threaten economic activity.

The meeting, chaired by Central Equatoria Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony and attended by Jonglei Governor Dr Riek Gai Kok and Pibor Chief Administrator Gola Boyoi Gola, resolved that the three administrations will work as one security bloc to respond to emerging threats, coordinate security deployments, and ensure that community movements are managed without provoking clashes.

A key resolution includes the deployment of national security forces and the construction of a permanent perimeter fence in Mogiri to protect cattle traders from armed attacks. Officials argued that safeguarding traders is crucial for maintaining commercial exchange between Jonglei, Pibor, and Central Equatoria, especially along migration routes that have historically become flashpoints for violence.

In August this year, eight people were reported dead and more than 3,000 head of cattle were stolen following a violent raid on the Mogiri Cattle Trading Centre. According to authorities, the attack occurred around 7:30 p.m. when heavily armed assailants stormed the busy market, opened fire indiscriminately, and caused panic among herders and traders before escaping with the livestock.

At the tripartite meeting, officials from the three regions argued that safeguarding traders is crucial for maintaining commercial exchange between Jonglei, Pibor, and Central Equatoria, especially along migration routes that have historically become flashpoints for violence.

But the leaders stressed that security cooperation must go beyond Mogiri. The three administrations agreed to strengthen joint security mechanisms, conduct rotational quarterly meetings, and expand the peace initiative to include Eastern Equatoria State, effectively turning the framework into a four-region peace platform.

The resolutions also place significant emphasis on preventing cattle raiding and child abduction, and on supporting the safe return of abducted children—issues that continue to fuel mistrust and cycles of revenge among neighbouring communities. Dialogue and reconciliation programs will be launched, with joint public sensitisation campaigns planned across all four administrative areas.

Economic cooperation was identified as a central element of peacebuilding. The leaders agreed to encourage trade between communities, rehabilitate roads connecting the regions, and prioritise youth empowerment through education, skills training, and economic opportunities, which they described as long-term tools for stability and violence prevention.

The meeting further appealed for a nationwide civilian disarmament to reduce gun-related crime and enable more effective community policing. A high-level inter-state committee will be established, alongside a crisis-management structure composed of senior security officials.

The tripartite summit also addressed security concerns along the Juba-Bor highway, disputes linked to seasonal cattle movement, internal displacement, and persistent cases of land grabbing in Central Equatoria. The leaders called on security organs to remain vigilant and on humanitarian actors to support peace and development programmes.

All three leaders reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the resolutions, urging communities to embrace peaceful coexistence and take ownership of the peace process that, they argued, is vital for the future stability of the region.