Rizeigat Arab leaders sat with Dinka Malual leaders to address tensions between the two tribes at a peace conference in Gok Machar in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.

Participants reviewed the successes and failures of the two sides in implementing peace resolutions made in January, before the migration of the Rizeigat into Dinka Malual pasturelands, a journey they make annually.   

The two tribes had agreed in January on 18 principles or rules governing the migration of the Rizeigat into Northern Bahr al Ghazal, which lasts until May.

During the two-day conference on Monday and Tuesday chiefs of both sides blamed the other side for violations of these rules.

The Dinka Malual presenter at the conference, Jacob Dau, claimed in his presentation that 7 people were killed, allegedly by Rizeigat nomads, including a sub-chief name Garang Tong.

One person was also reported to have disappeared, with the only trace of him found his motorbike, with no evidence of his body.

Of the 18 resolutions agreed in January, the Dinka Malual said the Riziegat respected only four.

According to Dau, the articles that were respected included a ban on cattle trading without the knowledge of the other side, penalization of rape or adultery by payment of a fine of 15 cattle, facilitation of the flow of goods across the border, and reporting of security issues involving SAF and SPLA to county commissioners.

For his part, the head of the Rizeigat peace committee Mohmed Ali told Radio Tamazuj that Dinka Malual stole 41 cows, of which only 31 were recovered.

He also blamed the tribal joint committee for not forming the border court to settle cases like killings. Mohamed Ali also complained of high taxes at the custom checkpoint at Gok Machar.

Caretaker Governor Kuel Aguer Kuel, who attended the conference, said in opening remarks that the Rizeigat should hand over any killers, otherwise it could affect the migration next year. 

File photo: Rizeigat Arabs at a peace conference in Gok Machar in March 2013 (Radio Tamazuj)