The Tonj East County spiritual leader, Mabang Muol, has called on communities across Tonj to end cycles of violence and embrace reconciliation, forgiveness and peaceful coexistence.
Muol’s appeal follows a deadly cattle raid in Tonj North County that left 49 people dead and 33 others wounded, according to Warrap State authorities.
Speaking to The Nile Witness on Friday, Muol urged community leaders, youth and cattle keepers to reject revenge and seek peaceful ways of resolving disputes.
“We cannot continue losing our people because of cattle and revenge. Our communities must stop retaliating and choose forgiveness. Peace and reconciliation are the only way forward for Tonj,” Muol stated.
He appealed to families affected by violence to avoid further retaliation, warning that revenge attacks only deepen divisions and create another cycle of bloodshed.
“Let us not allow the pain of one attack to create another attack. We must forgive one another and bring our communities together. Our youth should become protectors of peace, not agents of violence,” he said.
Muol further called on traditional authorities, religious leaders and state officials to strengthen local peace efforts and address cattle disputes before they escalate into armed confrontations.
The latest violence has renewed concerns over cattle-related attacks and revenge killings in the wider Tonj area.
In September 2024, communities in Tonj East committed to ending a cycle of cattle raiding and revenge attacks following a peace and reconciliation process.
However, violence has continued despite such efforts.
Last year, in April 2025, Tonj East communities again committed to reconciliation, while on April 2, 2026, a failed cattle raid in the county left two people injured, according to local authorities.