Neighbouring cattle-keeping tribes living along the border of South Sudan and Sudan have inked a peace deal to secure migration for pasture in Aweil East County in South Sudan.
The deal, which was midwifed by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), attracted elders drawn from the Misseriya of Sudan and Dinka Malual community of South Sudan.
‘‘United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in collaboration with its peace partners and the government have hosted a peace and pre-migration conference between the two groups.
The representatives who met in Aweil have now agreed on a series of resolutions and recommendations to promote peace and freedom of movement for all – without carrying guns,’’ UNMISS states in a press release.
According to the UNMISS, the deal is expected to break the cyclic incidences of violence which have planted tension at the border. Every beginning of the year, Misseriya people migrate with their animals to the border of Aweil East County. This always leads to friction between them and the Dinka Malual of South Sudan due to the shrunken resources such as pasture and water.
However, leaders of the community read more than just the scramble for pasture and food.
“Our differences have escalated due to the involvement of politics and politicians, and armed robberies. People are being killed and cattle stolen without proper accountability,” Bahkar Abdel Jalil Bahkar. Bahkar hails from the Misseriya tribe.
The border was recently closed after a man from Misseriya was killed early this year.
In the recently signed deal, the two communities have fronted irreducible minimums to be followed failure to which heavy penalties await defaulters.
“Any person found possessing a gun or ammunition inside South Sudanese territory shall be arrested and subjected to legal procedures,” said William Kolong, the Regional Peace Coordinator said.
Aside from this, those who will be implicated in rape or murder cases are to be penalised by ensuring that they provide a huge amount or cash plus herds of cattle.
“I commend the role played by the two leaders of South Sudan and Sudan for recognizing this Dinka Malual and Misseriya border conflict, and for supporting its resolution. This was the first time that the Sudanese government was directly involved in addressing the conflict,” said Deng Deng Akuei from Dinka Malual.
The UN and other peace partners have been urged to provide social amenities to the communities. The UNMISS added that closed roads linking two communities had already started attracting traffic due to returning normalcy.