Al-Khair Al-Fahim, the former co-chair of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee for the Government of Sudan has called for the release of Misseriya leaders who were detained ahead of a peace conference with the Ngok Dinka tribe in Aweil town this month.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj from Khartoum, Al-Fahim confirmed that some Misseriya leaders were arrested by the local authorities in West Kordofan State while crossing to Aweil town to attend a peace conference with the Ngok Dinka tribe in Aweil under the auspices of Concordis organization.
He pointed out that the tribal leaders were not informed about the right procedures for participation in conferences. “We called upon the government to release them even if they committed a mistake, I say they do not know the procedures, people should follow the right procedures for organizing peaceful coexistence conferences,” he said.
He expressed scepticism about the success of the peace conference between the leaders of the two tribes under Concordis organization.
“For us to have a successful conference, the two countries should be involved, not NGOs only, we acknowledge that the NGOs can help, but they shouldn’t bypass countries and governments,” he stressed.
Last week, members of the Ngok Dinka tribe in Abyei area demonstrated against the detention of the Misseriya delegates by local authorities in West Kordofan State, saying they should be allowed to participate in the conference in Aweil.
Concordis organization, which facilitates the peace meetings between the two tribes, confirmed that the Aweil conference that was scheduled to take place on 10 November has been postponed.