Abyei Area Finance Minister Achuil Akol Achuil has expressed some cautious hopes that the Dinka Ngok could resume trade with their northern neighbors the Misseriya, if the two communities reconcile.

Since the death of Paramount Chief Kuol Deng Kuol last year, the people of Abyei have been importing goods only via the southern neigbouring states such as Warrap, and not from Sudan, because Misseriya traders stopped coming to the area after the incident.

Kuol Deng Kuol, paramount chief of the Ngok Dinka, was killed 4 May 2013 in Abyei by gunmen belonging to the Missiriya Arab tribe. The chief was traveling in a convoy of UN peacekeepers in northern Abyei when they were ambushed.

The disputed region last October held a poll to split from Sudan and join South Sudan, but only the Dinka participated in the vote and not the Misseriya, who migrate seasonally into Abyei with their herds.

According to Achuil, reconciliation would have to precede resumption of trade relations. “If the leaders of the two communities, leaders of the Misseriya and leaders of the Dinka decide to live in coexistence… then relations could be restored as they were and the market could open with traders moving between Abyei and north Sudan,” he said.

The official noted that the Misseriya did not apologize for the killing of the chief. He also pointed out that the investigation committee never gave any report into the cause of the death of the chief.

Poor harvest

In an interview on Wednesday, Achuil also explained the the economic situation and life in Abyei is unstable due to poor cultivation last year and the influx of displaced people from neighboring areas such as embattled Unity State.

“Not all of the people cultivated last year because the security situation was not good enough to permit the citizens to cultivate in a good way. Half of the people cultivated and half didn’t because the security situation in northern Abyei was not good,” he said.

But he expressed optimism that cultivation efforts this year could improve the economy. He urged the Abyei citizens to grow crops this year and provide food for themselves. 

He also said that he recently inspected infrastructure projects being carried out by aid organizations including Save the Children, IOM, UNICEF and others. He said some schools buildings and hospitals are ready for use and others are under construction.

File photo: Misseriya traders in Northern Bahr al Ghazal (Radio Tamazuj)

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