South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"

By Awan Achiek
An annual pre-migration peace conference between Dinka Malual of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State and Reizigat from the war-ravaged region of South Darfur in neighboring Sudan is underway in Aweil.
The two-day conference which commenced on Tuesday is expected to discuss cross-border issues including shared water points and grazing.
It brought together about 116 participants, including community chiefs, women, religious leaders, local government officials, civil society and others.
William Kolong Pioth, the regional peace coordinator of South Sudan Peace and Reconciliation Commission told journalists on Tuesday that the conference aims to promote peace and harmony between the two groups.
“Today, we are opening a pre-migration conference between Reizigat and Dinka Malual of Aweil North, Aweil South and Aweil Center,” Kolong said.
He said that this year’s conference is different from the previous conferences because most members of the Reizigat tribe have been displaced by conflict in Sudan.
“Normally, we always ask the Reizigat to come to South Sudan seasonally and afterwards return to their home by May to allow Dinka Malual and Luo to cultivate. This year due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, most of the Reizigat may not go back on time and therefore the resolutions are going to be different,” Kolong said.
Kolong disclosed that there will be some Reizigat people returning home; adding those who remain in South Sudan must respect the law.