Animals drink in a river near Kapoeta

Grazing land disputes and immigration issues between pastoral communities are being discussed at a peace meeting between the Dinka Malual and the Misseriya nomad.

Earlier this year the Dinka Malual and the Misseriya nomad from Sudan signed agreements, stipulating that the Arab nomads are allowed to freely graze cattle and conduct trade in the state, and that any stolen livestock must be returned to their rightful owners.

The Northern Bahr el Ghazal Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agency, Adop Aceir, told Eye Radio that the meeting is reviewing this resolution agreed upon in January 2013:

“Now, they’re reviewing the resolution that was passed this year in January. They want to see what has gone wrong and how they can improve on them,” he added.

The two states have held several peace and reconciliation conferences in order to improve understanding and communication between the pastoralists.

In March this year, at the end of a three-day conference in Aweil town, the two communities formed a ten member committee that will discuss and promote peaceful coexistence among the pastoralists’ communities along the border.

The participants agreed that the Misseriya will only move their cattle along specific routes and they will not carry guns into South Sudan.

The Misseriya also agreed that they will not burn grass or cut down trees when going to fetch water or pasture their cattle.

The Dinka Malual, for their part, agreed not to raid the Misseriya cattle.