A cross-border peace conference that kicked off on Wednesday in South Sudan's Aweil State brought together more than 120 participants from Misseriya and Dinka Malual tribes, according to a local official.

Deng Deng Akuei, who coordinates peace activities in Aweil East state, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that the conference kicked off in Aweil East and it will last for three days. 

He said the purpose of the peace meeting was to discuss ways to allow people in the bordering states of Sudan and South Sudan to have peace and also to discuss issues affecting them during the seasonal migration period.

For his part, Adel-Jalil Abulgasim, representative of the Misseriya tribe said historical ties between Dinka Malual and Misseriya are very important.

He pointed out that the conference aims at addressing the challenges facing both sides during the seasonal migration of their herds southward.

 Lual Malong Yor, a member of the Dinka Malual tribe, said the conference would also discuss the incident of Mayom Jur Wiir where six people have been killed by cattle raiders.

The conference was supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) through its VISTAS program.