By Correspondent

A three-day intergenerational peace conference, which aims to bring peace in two Payams of Longiro and Bule of Lopit West, Eastern Equatoria State, kicked off in Imehejek Administrative Area on Friday.

The conference urged communities to accept change for total peace to prevail in the area, with over 500 people attending.

Pasquale Atari, the chairperson of the organizing committee, said the conference aimed to address and restore peace and unity.

Atari said the conference, which was organized under the theme: “Together we build a brighter Lopit West”, served to bring residents in the area together to promote peaceful coexistence, among the communities living in Lopit West. We want to build restoration and preserve lives.

On the other hand, Imehejek Area administrator, Omo Mathew, urged the communities to avoid conflict and instead target enemies of progress to reclaim peace.

“We are trying to make this area peaceful so that can collect revenue because you cannot collect taxes in a war zone. We need to bring peace so that we can access far-flung areas. It is time for us to clean our houses,” he said.

On his part, Hon. Elia John Ahanji, the Minister of Information in Eastern Equatoria State, commended the organizers of the event, stating that the initiative will be an avenue for addressing grievances.

“This meeting is to provide an opportunity to shun our mistakes and chat a way forward. We will have made milestones only if we come up with good resolutions, respect and be able to implement them. The Government of Eastern Equatoria State is very happy with the organizers of the conference,” he said, and added:

“You cannot leave everything to the government. We are going to support you. Let us discuss openly and open up on our problems.  If we hide those problems, we shall not come with meaningful resolutions.”

Angelo William Gerry, the Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries in the state, advised the Lopit West communities to abide by the country’s constitution and fear God, to overcome the challenges.

“People have died here and we can only overcome this when we obey the word of God. Lopit West will be great if we observe our constitution and strictly follow the rule of law and fear God,” he said. “Years of conflict prevented development in many areas in Eastern Equatoria State and we need to embark on production.”