The peace and reconciliation talks between the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka in Noong on Thursday were taken up by discussions about cattle raiding and crime after Misseriya herders said that about 240 of their cattle had been raided.

There were calls from some Misseriya chiefs that the peace talks were at risk if the cows were not found within 24 hours, but other elders were willing to take longer to solve the issue.

One Misseriya elder told Abyei This Week that that peace was worth more than cows: “These cows are mine [and] no one should die because of these cows. Let us hear from them how many days they want to be given to find them in order to search and bring back the cows… We have tasted war and Ngok Dinka tasted it too. It achieves nothing.”

In talks arranged with Concordis and with help from UNISFA it was agreed by all that the cows would need to be found within three days. Ngok Dinka chief Nyol Paguot, who represents the Ngok on the peace committee, promised that they would also be responsible if there are any lost calves. The chiefs arranged for a search to take place and a majority of the raided cows were recaptured with moves made for their return by the weekend.

The following day after the talks a man was stabbed in Noong market, and subsequently died, over the theft of a motorbike. The Misseriya chiefs found a man they suspected of the stabbing and handed him over to UNISFA for arrest. He will be judged in a traditional court as laid down in the original peace agreements from last month.

Reporting by Abyei This Week

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