Dinka clans attend peace ceremony in Warrap State

26 Mar 2012

Dinka clans attend peace ceremony in Warrap State

23 March 2012 – A peace ceremony held in the Warrap State county of Tonj North today has formalized the end to years of sporadic conflict among three Dinka clans living in the area.

Warrap Governor Nyangdeng Malek led a delegation of senior state government officials who attended the ceremony that was held in a dry river bed located between the payams of Alabek and Marial Lou.

The ceremony officially recognized a peace agreement among the Dinka clans that was brokered in May 2011 by Madhel Lang Juok, President of the Warrap State Council of Traditional Authority, and the state government's peace advisor Andrew Kuac Mayol.

That accord ended two years of sporadic fighting among the Tonj North County communities of the Awan Perek and Lou-Lual Wuol and the Tonj East County community of the Luany Jiang that resulted in nine deaths, a number of rape cases and the theft of cattle.

"The people were eagerly awaiting this ceremony," said Mr. Mayol. "After this day, it will be difficult for anyone to break what we have achieved today."

Warrap State has been plagued by recurring seasonal conflict that often involves cattle rustling since the signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. State and national institutions are under severe strain in their efforts to provide basic services and public security to their citizens, according to UNMISS Civil Affairs Team Leader Rick MacKinnon.

"These challenges to the rule of law are not lost upon cattle keepers," he said. "As a result, they sometimes feel compelled to take the law into their own hands through cattle raids and revenge raids."

The ceremony brought together the commissioners of Tonj East and Tonj North counties with local chiefs and area residents who witnessed the ritual slaughter of two young bulls.

UNMISS aircraft facilitated the visit of the senior state government officials, and the peacekeeping mission is continuing its ongoing efforts to reduce conflict within Warrap State and between communities in the state and neighboring Unity and Lakes states.

"Collaboration, goodwill and information sharing among lead governance and security actors at the state and county level are key," said Mr. MacKinnon. "UNMISS has a responsibility to help enable their good intentions and actions."