Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Rival communities of disputed Abyei region, the Ngok Dinka and the Miseriya Arab tribe – have reached an agreement to end hostilities in a talk held under the auspices of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
The leaders committed to advocating for inter-community dialogue to promote the protection of women and children as well as livestock and property. They also pledged to be the tool for fostering peace between the two communities and to meet regularly in the quest for peace.
The four-point communiqué was signed by the Ngok Dinka Paramount Chief, Bulabek Deng Kuol and the leader of the Misseriya delegation, El Sadig Hireka Izzral Din, at the end of the three-day Joint Traditional Leader’ Peace Conference. The leaders pledged to support the initiatives at government level towards resolving the Abyei issue.
Representatives of the United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes as well as international NGOs were represented at the meeting.
In a statement, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) Edmund Yakani said “it is essential for Ngok Dinka and Misseriya to maintain peace among themselves.
“The issue of Abyei status should not be a factor for triggering violence between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities. The agreed upon political and legal frameworks on the status of Abyei per the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace agreement should be the guidelines for settling the issues on the status of Abyei.
“Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities should not allow themselves to be confused by some political leaders who are based in Khartoum and Juba with negative attitudes towards their peaceful co-existence. Making peace to prevail in Abyei is a primary collective responsibility of the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya in Abyei. It is known to many that the economic opportunities in and around Abyei is shaping the political decisions in Khartoum and Juba on the status of Abyei.
“CEPO is calling upon Juba and Khartoum leaders to honor and respect the realized reached peace deal between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya in Uganda dated 19th May, 2022.
“Finally, CEPO is urging the leadership of UNISFA to help fund dissemination of the peace deal reached in Uganda dated 19th May, 2022. CEPO will be effectively engage in observing the implementation of the peace deal provisions.”
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