Dinka Malual tribal elders have signed a deal to allow the neighboring Rizeigat Arabs of Darfur to migrate into the northern Bahr al Ghazal region yet again next year, in spite of some violations of a previous deal.

This comes at the end of a conference on migration issues held 26-27 May in Gok Machar, the county seat of Aweil North County.

Chiefs from both sides spent the two days reviewing the successes and failures in upholding a previous 18-point agreement made in January.

In spite of some violations of the deal, which were discussed at the conference, the two sides decided to reaffirm their commitment for the Arab tribe to return to the state for grazing during the next dry season.

Among the resolutions signed at the end of the conference, the Dinka Malual and Rizeigat leaders agreed to pay compensation for traditional crimes, form a joint border court, take steps to disarm all unauthorized individuals and groups, and support vaccination of livestock.

They agreed also work to identify perpetrators of crimes who escaped justice by crossing the international border between the two Sudan.

Speaking after the signing of resolutions, Mohamed Ali, head of the Rizeigat delegation, expressed his gladness at reaching a deal and urged the two sides to honor it during the migration next year.

“I believe the Rizeigat will come back next year because they are going to work on the issues like coming without guns to South Sudan, since the Dinka Malual claimed such guns carried by Rizeigat were used against them,” he said.

Wek Bak, a Dinka Malual chief representing chiefs in four counties, said, “the Rizeigat will definitely come back to South Sudan because such issues like killings by both tribes could be settled by the two tribes and this could not prevent Riziegat from coming to South Sudan.”

“They will come next year because they are our brothers,” he said.

They conference was attended by more than 40 chiefs including members of a joint border committee. The closing ceremony was also attended by SPLA Division 3 General Ater Kuch.

The general urged both tribes to respect each other, stressing that the deal was between the tribes and not the armies of the two countries. 

Photo: Signing of the resolutions (Radio Tamazuj)