Mundari community leaders, elders, youth and women have convened a two-day peace and unity dialogue in Terekeka County, aimed at strengthening internal cohesion and preventing conflict ahead of an upcoming cultural festival expected to draw large gatherings from across the community.
The dialogue, which opened Monday, is being led by community and youth leaders with the support of local authorities.
Organizers say the timing of the forum is deliberate, intended to address underlying tensions, promote reconciliation and ensure a peaceful environment as the community prepares for the festival.
Opening the dialogue, Terekeka County Commissioner Emmanuel Laku reaffirmed the county government’s support for community-driven peace initiatives, emphasizing that sustainable peace must originate from within the community itself.
“Peace cannot be imposed from outside. It must come from within the community,” Commissioner Laku said. “As we prepare for the festival, unity and mutual understanding are critical.
The county government fully supports this dialogue and all efforts that promote stability, coexistence and development in Terekeka.”
Chairperson of the Organizing Committee, Bush Buse, described the forum as a timely intervention, noting that unresolved internal disagreements could undermine both community harmony and the success of major public events.
“This dialogue gives our people a chance to speak openly, resolve misunderstandings and rebuild trust among ourselves,” Buse said.
“As Mundari, we must take responsibility for our peace and ensure that our cultural celebrations take place in an atmosphere of unity.”
Youth leaders also welcomed the initiative, highlighting the role of young people in promoting calm and responsible behavior during large gatherings.
Terekeka Youth Association Chairperson Marko Majok said young people are committed to supporting peace before, during and after the festival.
“The youth want to be part of the solution, not the problem,” Majok said.
“This dialogue gives us hope that our concerns will be heard and that we can contribute positively to peace in our community.”
Participants are expected to deliberate on reconciliation, the role of traditional leadership, inclusive decision-making, youth and women participation, and strategies for preventing violence during communal events.
Discussions will also focus on practical mechanisms for cooperation and conflict resolution at the local level.
Organizers say the two-day forum will conclude with resolutions and recommendations aimed at guiding community conduct during the festival and strengthening peacebuilding structures beyond the event.
Local leaders expressed optimism that the dialogue will help foster unity, reinforce accountability and set a positive tone for the Mundari community in the days ahead.
