The Messirya have requested the government of Northern Bahr al-Ghazal State to facilitate a dialogue with the Ngok Dinka of Abyei and the Dinka Malual communities.

The Misseriya are Sudanese, but they graze their cattle in Abyei and in some parts of Northern Bahr al-Ghazal during the dry season.

The communities often have disagreements over grazing lands.

A delegation of twelve Messeriya community leaders has formally presented the request to Caretaker Governor Salva Chol Ayat.

“We have arrived in Aweil to meet the governor; to request for the peace conference which we prefer to commence right away after Ramadhan fasting between us [Missyria], Dinka Ngok, and Dinka Twic,” said Alfadul Muhammed, head of the team.

The state government says it will consider the request and arrange for a meeting of the border communities.

Salva Chol says his government will invite development partners to the conference.

“We are going to let national government and international peace organizations join, so that they witness this conference,” he said.

“And when we succeed arranging for such conferences, our borders from eastern to western parts of the country will always remain peaceful.”

The chairman of the peace commission in the state, William Kolong, says the conference will discuss co-existence between the communities.