CEPO Leads Civil-Military Dialogue in Bereka Boma, Lainya County to Foster Peace and Unity

Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) successfully organized a three-day civil-military dialogue in Bereka Boma, Lainya County, Central Equatoria State, aimed at bridging divides and fostering unity for peaceful coexistence in the war-affected region.

The dialogue, which took place from the 15th to 17th of May, brought together 100 participants from civil and military sectors, including the Lainya County local government, paramount chief, executive chief, executive director, youth leaders, women, and religious leaders. The event was led by the county commissioner under the theme “Bridging Divides: Fostering Unity for Peaceful Coexistence in Bereka Boma.”

Bereka Boma has been significantly impacted by the 2016 civil war that spread from Juba to various parts of Southern Central Equatoria, leading to widespread atrocities and displacements of civilians. The community has been striving to rebuild and heal from the trauma of the conflict.

Following previous successful dialogues, the residents of Bereka Boma highly recommended CEPO to facilitate the civil-military dialogue to promote understanding and cooperation between civilians and the military in the area. The initiative was implemented by the County Peace Committee with the support of CEPO and IOM-led Consortium in collaboration with religious leaders and local authorities of Lainya County.

In a statement, a representative from CEPO emphasized the importance of dialogue in building trust and enhancing relationships between civilians and the military for lasting peace and development in the region. The organization remains committed to supporting grassroots initiatives that aim to empower communities and promote peaceful coexistence.