Messeriya leader denies historical border with Dinka Ngok

September 21, 2009 (MUGLAD) — The leaders from Messeriya tribe in the Southern Kordofan town of Muglad today strongly denied having any historical border with Dinka Ngok.

In an interview with Sudan Tribune, Mr. Hassan Musa, one of the longest serving traditional Messeriya leaders, said his clan does not recognize any border demarcation between them and Dinka Ngok.

We have never had any border to be demarcated with Dinka Ngok in the past, therefore, I do not see reason why the border demarcation technical team is in Muglad to consult with local leaders here today, he said.

Following the ruling of an arbitration tribunal in The Hague last July the two peace partners pledged to work together in order to delimit the border of the nine Dinka Ngok chiefdoms as it is stated in the Judges’ decision.

On September a joint technical team including international observers arrived to Abyei announcing the start of the border demarcation. They met with local leaders of the Dinka Ngok and arrived to Muglad to assess the Misseriya’s point of view.

Explaining why they were unable to meet the demarcation team in Abyei, Musa said his clan would accept to cooperate in the demarcation only if another agreement on Abyei boundary is forged.

“My house and all personal belonging including relatives are in Difra, (located the extreme north of Abyei). Is Difra going with me, he posed blaming the ruling for having given Dinka big portion of the area.

However, Mutar Babo, a paramount chief in the area downplayed Musa’s remarks and reaffirmed his clan’s commitment and compliance to the ruling expressing readiness to extend helping hands to the border demarcation technical team.

He further pointed out, in any society, there are voices that do not agree with government decisions as such and government does not stop from implementing them. “Resistance voices are everywhere,” he said.

“I would like to encourage citizens from both sides to remain in good terms just as Sultan Deng Majok and Babo Nimir, used to be in the past peaceful coexistence toped up all their affairs during colonial area;” he said adding, because of this relation, Sultan Deng Majok transferred Ngok Chiefdom to Kordofan instead of Bahr el Ghazal in 1905.

“This should be encouraged,” he stressed.

(ST)