October 31, 2022 (WAU) – Traditional leaders, church groups, civil society organizations, youth and women representatives from the Twic Mayardit community of Warrap State and Abyei’s Ngok Dinka have agreed to immediately cease hostilities and work for peace.
The two communities also affirmed commitment to cease violence and coexist peacefully.
The agreement followed a peace dialogue supported by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Concordis International, the UN mission in Abyei (UNISFA), the UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
The four-day dialogue aimed at ending cycle of violence between the two communities.
“Having constructively and openly deliberated on the issues that divided the sisterly communities of Ngok Dinka of Abyei and Twic Dinka of Warrap state, we have acknowledged the suffering and pain that we caused to our communities due to continuous violence in the last eight months which has claimed the lives of our beloved ones and led to the loss of properties and massive displacement,” partly reads a communique issued at the end of the event.
“We urge the community fighters of both sisterly communities to stop the deadly fighting and we urge all sons and daughters of both communities to abstain from hostile propaganda and hate speech and to promote a culture of peace,” it added.
Chief Joseph Nyuat Deng from Abyei urged participants to be ambassadors of peace.
“This is a big responsibility that we are tasked with and it will not defeat us if we are united and follow it,” said Deng.
He added, “The papers signed today do not mean the end of everything but because of the love in our hearts for our people, we have to stop violence and give peace a chance.”
Chief Atem Madhieu Deng from Twic County said the signing of the intercommunal consultative agreement is a milestone in achieving peace between the two communities.
“We need to take this message to our people back home so that those we left at home can appreciate us on the fruitful meeting we achieved,” he stressed.
42 participants attended the dialogue facilitated by Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO).
(ST)
