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

Church groups in the Abyei Administrative Area and Twic County have called for calm and dialogue following renewed tensions and escalating threats between the two communities.

The Abyei Inter-Church Council and the Twic Inter-Church Committee made the appeal in a joint statement issued yesterday.

The statement, signed by Rev. Joseph Atem Mabil, Chairman of the Twic Inter-Church Committee, and Joseph Mawan Machok, Chairman of the Abyei Inter-Church Council, called on political and community leaders to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation.

The church leaders also urged the leaders to avoid actions that could further escalate tensions.

They said they are concerned about rising tensions, divisive rhetoric and threats that could put innocent lives at risk.

The church groups said they remain committed to supporting the two communities affected by conflict.

The church leaders also rejected calls or deadlines issued by Members of Parliament from either side demanding that civilians leave their homes.

They said innocent citizens should not be forced from their homes and called on all sides to resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue.

The two communities of Ngok Dinka of Abyei and Twic of Warrap State have been involved in a long-running territorial dispute, which erupted into violence in February 2022.

The conflict has claimed dozens of lives on both sides since then.

It is not clear what triggered the latest tensions.