Twic, Abyei leaders sign cessation of hostilities to halt survey in Aneet market
April 5, 2022 (JUBA) – Leaders from Twic county in South Sudan’s Warrap state and Abyei administrative area have signed a cessation of hostilities and agreed to suspend surveying activities in Aneet market.
The deal was signed on Monday in Northern Bahr El Ghazal state capital, Aweil. Mediated by a fact-finding investigation committee led by the vice president for services cluster, Hussein Abdel Bagi Akol, who was assisted by the governor of Unity state Joseph Nguen Monytuil and the minister of investment, Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol, the two communities agreed to stop carrying out attacks and resume their normal relations and continue to live peacefully with each other.
Governor of Warrap state, Aleu Ayieny Aleu, and the Abyei chief administrator, Kuol Deim Kuol, attended the function and signed the documents along with two county commissioners and two traditional leaders.
The deal listed 13 points, the first of which includes a declaration of cessation of hostilities, resumption of peaceful coexistence, and social cohesion between themselves.
End all of the forms of direct provocation, whether verbal or written material which constitutes spreading hate and other hateful activities, stop all of the forms of unauthorized blockage of roads or checkpoints, allow free movement of persons and goods in the territorial jurisdictions of each community, allow national government without reservation to convene and facilitate peaceful dialogue and reconciliation which should establish root cause of the conflict and find a permanent solution.
The two communities pledged to recognize that interstate boundary are always a responsibility of the national government to which any dispute should be left for an amicable settlement. The deal pledged that the accused from both sides of the conflict will be identified and be held accountable for their actions.
The leaders also pledged commitment to peace and stability and determination to accept the outcome of the permanent peaceful settlement when the national government convenes it.
The document commits each chief to control his people and be held responsible in the event an attack was launched from his area against the other without acting to control the situation. It calls on the national government and humanitarian organizations to urgently provide humanitarian assistance to the affected population and victims of the conflict in Aneet.
(ST)