Map showing Warrap State and Abyei Administrative Area. (Photo: Courtesy).

Calm has returned to a disputed border between Warrap State and Abyei Administrative Area, the state minister of information has said

This comes after the dispatch of forces by the state authorities to quell the recent renewed inter-communal fighting that left four dead and three wounded on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.

The violence which erupted at Wou Chien in the Southern Kiir River on Wednesday has left four people dead and three others injured from both sides.

Wiliam Wol Mayom said the cause of the incident – suspected to be between youth from Twic and Ngok is unclear.

Speaking to Eye Radio from Kuajok town this morning, Wol said the state government had earlier sent the forces to the area to calm the situation.

“Upon hearing this incident, the government of Warrap State under the leadership of the governor, H.E Manhiem Bol Malek, sent in the security forces that were deployed as upper zone in the area to quell down the situation. So, the incident was separated,” said Wol.

There have been tensions and communal violence between Warrap state and Abyei Administrative Area.

The conflict between the two communities has continued to escalate despite their previous commitment to the cessation of hostilities agreement in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State capital, Aweil in April this year.

An investigative committee led by Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi brought the two communities of Ngok Dinka of Abyei – a disputed region between South Sudan and Sudan – and Twic in Warrap State to sign the broken ceasefire.

Last month, a peace dialogue between the Ngok people of the Abyei Administrative Area and the Twic of Warrap State –came up with a nine-point resolution in Western Bahr el Ghazal to end violence between the two communities.

The communique appealed to the conflicting communities to abstain from hostile propaganda and hate speech, and to adhere to the cessation of hostilities.

Both communities also resolved that chiefs, local authorities, youth, and women including politicians should hold an inclusive dialogue to declare an end to the violence.