Local communities in the contested Abyei Administrative Area on the South Sudan-Sudan border over the weekend conducted prayers for the victims and to comfort the families of those killed and the people of the region following recent clashes.
On 13 April, armed elements from Messiriya tribesmen attacked civil populations in the East and North of Abyei killing 41 people, injuring scores, and looting property. Earlier in February, over 20 Ngok Dinka were also killed in clashes between the Twic and Ngok communities in Aneet, Agok, and surrounding.
Bulabek Deng Kuol, the Ngok Dinka paramount chief in Abyei, told Radio Tamazuj Sunday that all the communities conducted mass payers to comfort the families and ask God to bring truth and healing to the region.
“The purpose is for God to have mercy on the souls of those killed, encourage families of the deceased, and bring truth,” Chief Bulabek said. “Of course, communities have come out; churches, youth, women, all gathered in joint prayers for the sake of the killed and there are some families which held prayers for their dead sons.”
Nyanwai Marial, who spoke on behalf of the families who lost their loved ones, said the prayers gave them the courage to endure the pain and condemned the attacks by Messiriya and Twic on the Ngok Dinka.
“We the families who lost our members in the Twic and Masseriya incidents were comforted,” She said. “We are surprised because we are alone and have been attacked by two sides. It is God only who can sustain us.”
Chol Lual, the Abyei Youth Union chairperson, said the event was organized by the youth union and that it was a colorful gathering because it was attended by the deputy chief administrator, the Abyei town mayor, and women representatives, and the families of the victims among others.
“We organized the prayers and we had representatives who gave speeches from women, victims’ families, wounded, deputy chief administrator, and the mayor of Abyei town,” he said.