The Misseriya community in Sudan’s West Kordofan State played a vital role on Tuesday in escorting over 200 South Sudanese returnees who had been trapped in Meiram Locality to Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, local officials said.
As the conflict erupted on April 15 in Khartoum, Sudan, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Paramilitary Group Rapid Support Forces (RSF), numerous South Sudanese returnees found themselves confined in Meiram due to heightened insecurity along the border.
Recent reports from government authorities in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State revealed that Misseriya assailants were responsible for the deaths of 10 South Sudanese individuals, including three South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) soldiers. Incidents of kidnapping and looting were also reported.
William Kolong, the Regional Peace Coordinator in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that the Misseriya has relocated approximately 260 families to the state, with a significant number of others still stranded in Meiram.
Kolong stated, “A large number of returnees from the Dinka Malual, Twic, and Greater Bahr el Ghazal communities were trapped in Meiram. The peace committee made the decision to escort about 260 families from there to Majok Yinh Thiou Municipality, where the International Organization for Migration assisted them in returning to their respective areas.”
Furthermore, it was revealed that a meeting took place between the Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Tong Akeen Ngor, and a delegation from the Misseriya community who facilitated the relocation of the returnees.
Kolong explained, “The governor invited the members of the Misseriya peace committee to meet him in Aweil town, and they stayed overnight in Warawar town. Yesterday evening (Wednesday), the governor had a productive meeting with Misseriya chiefs, though he expressed his disappointment with the ongoing issues along the border. The governor urged the joint border peace committees to work diligently in addressing cases of looting and killings.”
Ibrahim Marek Satur, the representative of the Misseriya community, expressed satisfaction with the meeting with the governor and stated that they have reached an agreement with their counterparts, the Dinka Malual community, to renew bilateral relations and enhance security along the borders.
He emphasized, “The meeting concluded successfully, and we have agreed to renew relations and prioritize security from both sides.”
Deng Deng Akuei, a member of the Dinka Malual joint border peace committee, acknowledged that the Misseriya community had indeed brought South Sudanese returnees from Meiram. He also mentioned that numerous incidents of violence had occurred following the pre-migration peace conference held in March.
“Yes, the Misseriya team met with the governor to discuss peace-related issues, as there have been repeated incidents of violence following the pre-migration peace conference held in March. The governor urged them to respect the peace resolution signed between the Dinka Malual and Misseriya,” Deng said.
At the time of reporting, the returnees were unavailable for comment.