South Sudan Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Gen. Santino Deng Wol, the National Security’s Internal Security Bureau Director General Gen. Akol Koor Kuch, and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Gen. Atem Marol on Monday left Juba for Abyei to resolve the conflict and end the sporadic fighting between the Ngok Dinka of Abyei and people of Warrap State’s Twic County.
Early this year, President Salva Kiir summoned the four governors of the Bahr El Ghazal Region and the chief administrators of Abyei and Ruweng administrative areas to Juba to discuss ways of ending the three-year-long border conflict between Ngok Dinka and Twic communities. He also ordered that the warring parties cease hostilities along their borders and allow free movement of people and goods vehicles among others.
SSPDF Spokesperson Gen. Lul Ruai told Radio Tamazuj Tuesday that Gen. Deng led a high-level security delegation to implement the president’s orders which aim to restore peace and security along the borders between Abyei, Twic County in Warrap State and Mayom County of Unity state.
“Chief of SSPDF Gen. Santino Deng Wol led a high-level military delegation to Abyei Administrative Area and the purpose of the visit is to restore peace and security at the borders of Abyei and the county of Twic Mayardit community in Warrap State. Secondly, they will reopen the borders between Ajak Kuac Payam, Mayom County in Unity state, and Abyei for the people and business activities to move freely,” he said. “Another purpose apart from the two I have just mentioned is for heads of security to talk to youth, women, and chiefs to accept peace with their neighbors and the isolated cases of Messiriya pastoralist attacks should be handled by Abyei and Warrap local authorities.”
Gen. Ruai added: “Gen Santino Deng Wol and other heads of security forces did not take with them additional forces because we have a brigade under the command of Gen. Joseph Kuai deployed there (Abyei) that will do the mission.”
He said heads of security forces will also encourage the locals to embrace peace among and live in harmony with their neighbors and that Gen. Deng led a peace and reconciliation mission so that stakeholders dialogue to realize peace.
Meanwhile, Deng Kiir, the Abyei Minister of Physical Infrastructure who is also the acting information minister, confirmed and hopes that the visit of the top security officials will bring lasting peace between the neighboring communities of Abyei and Twic County.
“The Abyei chief administrator and the heads of the security forces conducted a security meeting yesterday (Monday) and a series of meetings are still ongoing. The purpose of their visit is to bring security and stability to the warring communities of Abyei and Twic County,” he said. “The security chiefs also came to implement President Kiir’s order because the Abyei government and people are ready for peace and reconciliation.”
“The implementation of the presidential order will help in ending violence at borders because Abyei and Twic are sisterly communities,” Minister Kiir added.