The Dinka Malual-Misseriya Peace Committee have recovered cattle raided last week at Majok Yithiou in what is the first instance of cows being returned to their owners in the region in recent memory.

"By this we have learned there is peace among us," said Dinka Malual peace committee spokesperson Manut Yel.

The two tribes share a border between South Sudan's Northern Bahr al Ghazal state and Sudan's Kordofan region.

Misseriya peace committee representative Adam Hamad said the cattle were raided by his fellow tribesfolk from Sudan, but that both sides of the peace committee worked together positively to return them. Money was paid to the raiders to release the cattle, he said.

Manut of the Dinka Malual said it was the first time the Misseriya returned raided cows to his people.

Adam said he appreciated the work of the governments of South Sudan and Northern Bahr al Ghazal state for keeping peace along the border, and called for peace in Wunrok, Akuach, and Thuralei areas where Misseriya graze their flocks alongside the Dinka.

Manut assured Adam that the Misseriya will be secure when they come to South Sudanese territories and that their cattle will be protected, adding that he hoped the peace would spread to all areas where Misseriya seek grazing lands in South Sudan.

File photo: Dinka Malual and Misseriya leaders sign a peace agreement