Traditional leaders from the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya tribes in the disputed territory of Abyei between Sudan and South Sudan, have urged the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) to release the probe report on the killing of Koul Deng Kuol, the paramount chief of the Dinka Ngok tribe, in May 2013.
Experts from the UN and AU were tasked with investigation into the killing of the Ngok Dinka chief in Abyei area.
Misseriya tribal leader Hamad Al-Dudu said the probe report on the killing of the Ngok Dinka chief should be released to identify the perpetrators. He also urged the incumbent paramount chief of the Ngok Dinka tribe to sit down with Misseriya leaders for the sake of peaceful coexistence between the two tribes.
“The report was supposed to be release, they should release the report. We need to know who killed Kuol,” said Al-Dudu. “If they don’t want to release the report, Kuol died in our territory, and according to our traditions here between us and the Ngok Dink, we will solve the issue,” he added.
For his part, Bulabek Deng Kuol, Paramount Chief of the Ngok Dinka, urged the United Nations and the African Union to release the probe report as soon as possible.
“We requested for that report earlier before them, but I think the two countries, Sudan and South Sudan, or the regional communities, are afraid to release the report, because they think if it is released it might cause tension in the area,” he said.
Bulabek pointed out that the killing of Kuol Deng Kuol has weakened social relations and created mistrust between the two tribes.
He emphasized the importance of peace between the two tribes, while expressing his readiness for dialogue to find a radical solution to the root cause of the problem.
“We sat down and we have talked on this issue, and we decided to choose UNISFA to be the mediator. We, The Ngok Dinka tribe, we initiated peace, so we are ready to sit down with any side for dialogue,” said Bulabek.
Photo: Sultan Kuol Deng Kuol being interviewed in Abyei, March 2013 (Radio Tamazuj)