The Blue Nile Women’s Association of the refugee camps in Maban County, Upper Nile State announced new initiatives on Sunday to foster peace between refugees and host communities.

Rouda Talian, chairperson of the BNWA, told Radio Tamazuj that women will participate in tribal reconciliation to put an end to conflict between Blue Nile refugees and Maban County's residents.

Maban County accommodates more than 120,000 refugees from Blue Nile who fled fighting between the Sudan Armed Forces and SPLA-North in 2011.

Talian said that the time has come for women to play their role in achieving peace in Maban.

She said oppression and lack of educational opportunities have held women back in the past, but that the new initiatives will aim to raise awareness among women to lead the way to consolidate peace between communities.