A three-day peace conference ended on Wednesday last week in the area of Todach in the disputed area of Abyei between Sudan and South Sudan.
The event was jointly organized by United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), FAO and IOM. A total of 85 participants from both Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities including 14 women representatives attended the conference.
UNISFA Force Commander and acting Head of Mission, Major Gerneral Gebre Adhana Woldezgu, informed participants that, the United Nations believes in dialogue in resolving disputes, and emphasized on the need for collaboration between the local communities, UNISFA and UN FAPs in achieving sustainable peace and security for Abyei community.
General Woldezgu, who was represented by UNISFA Spokesperson, Mr. Daniel Adekera, stressed on the need for continuous dialogue between the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka communities in the search for peace and security in Abyei.
The conference deliberated on ways to minimize insecurity during the migration and reversed migration and how to strengthen historical relations and built trust between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities.
Participants resolved that all challenges to peace in Abyei should be resolved in a collaborative way through dialogues, meetings and conferences.
Consequently, they called on UNISFA, IOM and FAO to conduct capacity building of the Joint Pace Committee members, youth and women and other relevant actors through training on conflict transformation, prevention, early warning system and negotiation.
There were also presentations from UNPOL and United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) on crime prevention in Abyei area and challenges face UNPOL in achieving its mandate and mine awareness respectively
A communique is to be signed by members of the two communities.