A peace conference aimed at resolving the violent conflict between the Ngok Dinka of Abyei and their neighboring community of Twic in Warrap State is underway in the Western Bahr el Ghazal State capital Wau.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on the sidelines of the conference on Wednesday, one of the chiefs representing the Twic community, Deng Aguer, said the conference started with deliberating on key issues including the recent appeal by President Salva Kiir that the warring communities resolve their differences peacefully.
“The president asked the two communities to engage in dialogue and cease hostilities and open roads to allow free movement to commercial goods,” he said. “We have also deliberated on the presidential order to deploy forces in some areas to create a buffer zone so that no Twic or Ngok can launch attacks against the other.”
“It was also resolved that other neighboring tribes who joined either side of the conflict withdraw back to their areas,” Chief Aguer added.
On his part, Chief Bagat Makuach Abiem of the Ngok Dinka confirmed that the meeting is the actualization of the request of the president and that they intend to attain lasting peace.
“The conference is about the conflict that erupted between the two communities in 2022 and came as a result of the recent meeting of President Kiir and representatives of the two communities in Akoon (Warrap State) last month,” he said. “The president told the two communities that there should be an end to the conflict by all means. Secondly, he opened the roads and also ordered the disarmament of the two communities.”
The conference which started on Monday will conclude on Thursday.
It is being supported by IOM, UNDP, UNMISS, UNISFA, FAO, and CONCORDIS and is attended by 80 participants, 40 from Twic and 40 from Abyei.