Panyikan County once again hosted a peace tournament match at their headquarters in Tonga, marking the second meeting between the two neighbouring counties in this ongoing league. This match continues the efforts of these communities to foster peaceful relations through sports. The event drew an impressive crowd of 35,000 attendees, including officials from both counties.

In a phone interview with this newspaper, Fangak County Youth Director, Changkuoth Puok, confirmed that the match ended with Fangak County defeating Panyikan County 1-0. He emphasized that the primary goal of the tournament was to promote peaceful coexistence between these closely connected neighbouring communities, who have a long history of living together. Changkuoth also highlighted that it is the responsibility of the leadership of both counties to ensure that peace is restored, allowing citizens to visit and interact freely.

Despite the challenges of recent flooding, Fangak County has maintained its relationships with surrounding counties. This peace tournament symbolizes an important step towards strengthening frayed relationships and fostering unity between these closely linked communities, while also mending ties and enhancing cooperation.

Fangak County hosted the opening ceremony of this peace tournament in June, where they secured a 2-0 victory in front of a remarkable audience of 350 attendees. The two counties have consistently used sports as a platform to promote reconciliation, as outlined in the Transitional Government of National Unity’s peace agreements. Despite the slow implementation of these agreements, the government has tasked county leaders with promoting peace and reconciliation among citizens in South Sudan, a country still deeply divided along political lines.

This ongoing tournament not only demonstrates the power of sports to unite people but also shows a promising step towards lasting peace and cooperation between Panyikan and Fangak counties.