The communities of Illoli and Oguruny in Hiyala Payam, Torit County, Eastern Equatoria State, have agreed to pursue peaceful coexistence and end their longstanding conflict.

According to Office of caretaker Mayor and Commissioner of Torit, the agreement was reached during a community dialogue held at Ihusai Hill over the weekend, bringing together representatives of the two communities and neighbouring villages to discuss the causes of the violence and ways to achieve lasting peace.

During the dialogue, participants identified the killing of schoolchildren along roads and disputes over fishing grounds as among the key factors contributing to tensions between the communities.

The communities agreed to pursue compensation for those killed through the courts or locally agreed mechanisms.

Women representatives from both sides appealed for an end to the longstanding conflict, saying women and children had been among the innocent victims of the violence.

They warned that continued fighting could force families to abandon their homes, calling on community members to embrace peaceful coexistence.

The caretaker commissioner of Torit County and the mayor of Torit Municipal Council commended the communities for choosing dialogue and urged them to honour their commitments.

The county caretaker commissioner also urged the communities to focus on addressing hunger and other pressing challenges facing residents rather than continuing to fight.

The dialogue is aimed at promoting reconciliation and peaceful coexistence between the communities, although the implementation of the commitments will be key to sustaining peace in the area.