Bahr el-Ghazal, Darfur Governors pledge to promote better border relations

By Ngor Arol Garang

January 3,2010 (KHARTOUM) — Governor of the southern State of Northern Bahr el Ghazal Paul Malong Awan Anei today pledged to promote better relations with South Darfur and areas bordering the region.

This comes following an official visit made by South Darfur Governor Ali Mahmoud Mohamed to Aweil town, State capital of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State on Sunday.

During their meeting the two governors reportedly discussed bilateral relations particularly the need to allow members of the Rezigat pastoralists to access water and grazing areas during dry seasons.

They also agreed to hold a conference planed to be conducted in Aweil later this month to be attended by traditional chiefs and intellectuals from both Rezigat and Dinka Malual. They also discussed and concluded pending discussions on preparation of the upcoming conference.

In the meeting, governor Malong repeatedly said always loves to see that his neighbors enjoy peace and development instead of war and hunger. “Aweil feels the war in Darfur and that we will always seeks alternatives to bringing peace to where is no peace including Darfur,” he said.

“We are peace loving society only when we are pinched, he said affirming his commitment to protect Darfur pastoralists in Southern soil particularly in the territory of northern Bahr el Ghazal. Their livestock while in the area searching for water will be protected,” Governor Malong, further said.

The South Darfur Governor also affirmed the support of his government to the authorities and people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal and expressed wishes that both communities long lasting relations.

He said people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal and South Darfur share territorial history since time memorial and that this relation should be encouraged to go on while attending to issues which he described as issues without meaningful reason to divide sisterly states from coexistence.

(ST)