Abyei’s Amiet common market reopens after deadly clashes

Local authorities in the disputed region of Abyei say they reopened the Amiet common market, situated in Amenth-aguok County, on Sunday after it was closed last week when Dinka Ngok and Misseriya tribesmen clashed in the market centre.

Local authorities in the disputed region of Abyei say they reopened the Amiet common market, situated in Amenth-aguok County, on Sunday after it was closed last week when Dinka Ngok and Misseriya tribesmen clashed in the market centre.

The fighting which resulted in the death of three traders, one Dinka and two Misseriya, was the result of a disagreement between two traders from either side and ended up in a melee joined by several of their tribesmen. 

Nyok Deng Rou, the commissioner of Amenth-aguok County in the Abyei Administrative Area, told Radio Tamazuj late on Tuesday through a recorded “with the commissioners' program” that they lost one trader and the Messeriya lost two, adding that the situation was now calm. 

“The situation is now okay after we agreed on some new regulations, including the redeployment of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) around the market to prohibit any person entering into the market with any weapons like knives and was also asked them to arrest anybody trying to cause any chaos in the market,” Nyok said.

According to the commissioner, a member of the community police from Dinka Ngok, Chol Kuot, who was deployed in the market was also injured during the fighting and he is now receiving treatment in Juba.

He added that the joint leadership of UNISFA and the Dinka Ngok immediately arrested six suspects in connection with the incident and that they are now being investigated in two separate places.

Nyok said the situation returned to normal after the joint committee met but emphasized that stability in the region will only be achieved when the issue of ownership of Abyei is resolved by the governments of Sudan and South Sudan.

Radio Tamazuj was unable to reach the Messeriya tribal leaders in the area for comment.

The Amiet common market was established in 2016 to sustain peace between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya tribes in the area.