By Caritas Enga Media
Wabag, Enga: On August 13, 2024, a tribal conflict erupted between the Waolin and the Sakar tribes of the Upper Lai Constituency of the Kandep Electorate in Enga Province, when a Waolin tribesman chopped to death a man from Sakar during a wedding feast. In retaliation, the Sakar tribe mobilized and ransacked Kule village, burning down several houses, trade stores, slaughtering animals and destroying food gardens belonging to the Waolin tribe.
In a district where police presence is very minimal, this would have been another devastating tribal fight in the Kandep district and Enga Province if Caritas Enga would not have intervened.
Fr. Andreas Leo, the parish priest of Mang Sacred Heart Parish together with Caritas Enga parish team immediately responded to the tribal conflict and met with the respective tribal groups and put a stop to the fight.
During the mediation, Fr. Andreas told both sides of the conflict that tribal fights did not bring anything good but only death and destruction and they should therefore refrain from further engagement.
“It is for our own good and for the good of our women and children that we must stop the fight. There are no police and law and order officials readily available to resolve our conflicts and therefore we must take ownership and resolve issues peacefully and not resort to tribal fights,” added the Parish Caritas Coordinator, Catechist Thomas Wambu.
Both the Woalin and the Sarkar tribes adhered to the appeal made by the Church leaders and stopped the fight immediately.
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