Misseriya and Ngok Dinka pre-movement conference ends in Abyei Town
Abyei, 28 March 2019 – A three-day conference jointly organized by United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), FAO and IOM ended yesterday in Todach 18 kms north of Abyei mission Headquarters. A total of 85 participants from both Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities including 14 women representatives attended the conference.
The objective of the conference is to strengthen peaceful coexistence and peaceful resolution of conflicts between the two communities. UNISFA Force Commander and acting Head of Mission, Major Gerneral Gebre Adhana Woldezgu, informed participants that, the United Nations believes in dialogue in resolving disputes, and emphasized on the need for collaboration between the local communities, UNISFA and UN FAPs in achieving sustainable peace and security for Abyei community.
General Woldezgu, who was represented by UNISFA Spokesperson, Mr. Daniel Adekera, stressed on the need for continuous dialogue between the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka communities in the search for peace and security in Abyei, adding that UNISFA and the UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes are in the area to facilitate discussions that would lead to peace and security without which they could be no development.
The conferences deliberated on ways to minimize insecurity during the migration and reversed migration and how to strengthen historical relations and built trust between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities.
Participants resolved that all challenges to peace in Abyei should be resolved in a collaborative way through dialogues, meetings and conferences such as the current one. Consequently, they called on UNISFA, IOM and FAO to conduct capacity building of the Joint Pace Committee members, youth and women and other relevant actors through training on conflict transformation, prevention, early warning system and negotiation.
There were also presentations from UNPOL and United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) on crime prevention in Abyei area and challenges face UNPOL in achieving its mandate and mine awareness respectively
A communique is to be signed by members of the two communities.