The Ngok Dinka of the contested border region of Abyei and the Misseriya communities of Sudan’s Western Kordofan State are expected to attend a peace conference in Entebbe, Uganda in May.
The talks, organized by the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), will take place between 16-19 May 2022.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, the Ngok Dinka Paramount Chief Bulabek Deng Kuol said traditional leaders, women, and youth representatives will attend the conference.
He said UNISFA finalized the dates after both communities agreed to the initiative.
“UNISFA got a green light from all sides of Misseriya and Ngok Dinka so that they can sit and dialogue. The delegates will be in Entebbe from 16-19 May and after that, we will see what will happen,” said Deng.
“We, the Dinka, don’t see peace without dialogue and this is logic. This dialogue was supposed to take place in September 2021 but the other side (Misseriya) was not ready. It was again to take place in November in Nairobi but it was postponed until now,” he revealed.
Radio Tamazuj was not able to reach the Misseriya side for comment.
In recent months, violence has escalated in the contested region despite the presence of the UN peacekeeping mission – UNISFA.
About two weeks ago, more than 40 people were reported killed in Abyei by suspected armed Misseriya tribesmen in separate attacks. The violence displaced thousands of inhabitants into bushes and neighbouring communities.
Last week, the US government expressed regret over the silence of both Sudan and South Sudan on the status of Abyei. The UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix also called on the two countries to renew their engagement on the final status of the disputed Abyei region for peace to prevail.
In December last year, the Chief Administrator of the Abyei Administrative Area called on the presidency to expedite the process of determining the final status of the area.
The oil-rich border region of Abyei has been contested since South Sudan gained independence in 2011.