South Sudan Vice President regrets Twic-Abyei conflict

March 22, 2022 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s Vice President for services cluster, Hussein Abdel Bagi Akol has described as “unfortunate” the conflict pitting communities from Twic and Abyei region.

The official, currently on an assessment visit to Warrap state, urged the two communities to respect each other’s social systems and interests.

“Nothing should divide you. Your people have always been together, and you need to keep to this culture and continue to treat each other as equals and as brothers and sisters, keep differences under control, and seek common ground while reserving differences”, said Akol.

He stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence between the two communities, urging both sides to desist from confrontations.

According to the Vice President, the interests of the two communities are deeply intertwined, further adding that Twic and Abyei stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontations.

Akol said he had an opportunities to meet officials and community leaders from both sides to listen to their concerns and to help understand the cause of the conflict and how it should be resolved.

Recent clashes along the border between Warrap state and the Abyei Special Administrative Region, which began in the Agok area of Twic County, have displaced some 50,000 people and led to the deaths of 16 people, including a humanitarian health worker.

Humanitarian workers say the situation in Twic is becoming another burden to the economy of the country which has been in tatters as critical infrastructure and basic services have all, but collapsed.

(ST)