Dinka, Misseriya promise each other peace, despite politics

By Skye Wheeler

November 11, 2008 (AWEIL) – Peace talks between Dinka Malual and Misseriya El-Merram that representatives say are crucial for security in the north-south borderlands kicked off in Aweil town on Tuesday with both sides saying high-level politics had worsened fragile relations between the two.

The two pastoralist communities that straddle the north-south border have long had troubled relations marked by fierce competition over dry season pastures and water. But when fighting broke out between armed elements of the Misseriya and the SPLA just before December last year many feared for the CPA.

South Sudan’s government blamed Khartoum for the border battles that killed dozens, saying the Misseriya had been purposively armed and had started the fighting, accusations that Misseriya leaders in Aweil this week have strongly denied.

Northern Bahr el Ghazal Governor Paul Malong called for reconciliation and peace in a long speech made to delegates during the morning but also told the Misseriya that they needed to be honest about any military support they receive from Khartoum.

“Of course you are getting support from National Congress Party but you are denying it,” he said. During the months of on-off fighting between the South’s army and the nomads, the Misseriya blocked roads between north and south, causing bad food shortages in Aweil town.

“But we can get goods from other ends in other ways,” Malong told the crowd. He also warned the Misseriya that they needed to leave guns behind when they enter the South looking for their traditional pastures this year.

Misseriya leaders made equally impassioned speeches about the importance of peace between the two communities. Chief Al Hirika Osman Omer talked about how Dinka-Misseriya problems were a result of a small misunderstanding and called for renewed trade efforts between the two tribes as one good way for increasing trust and for Joint Integrated Units (JIU) to be stationed in Merram.

In an interview later he said that 92 percent of the problems were political and only eight percent as a result of competition over pastures and water.

“If we are to have peace then the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) have to leave the area north of the border,” he said, adding that southern Sudanese soldiers had caused the fighting earlier this year by besieging water points and shooting at Misseriya cattle.

He said that it was difficult for Misseriya to leave guns behind on their travels into the South as they fear bandits, cattle raiding and Darfurian rebels.

Observers point out that peace between the two communities requires to disarm both sides.

The conference will continue until Thursday.

(ST)