Chiefs, county commissioners, representatives of United Nations agencies, youth and women representatives are attending the three-day symposium in Aweil Town Center.
While officially opening the workshop, the state governor Tong Aken Ngor said he hopes the conference will foster peaceful co-existence among communities in border areas.
William Kolong Pioth, the peace conference coordinator called for frank discussions among the participants if peace and tranquility was to prevail along common borders.
“I would like to underscore a point here. Each of us know how we have been living along the border where we get mutual benefits. As our people go to Sudan, they used to pass through your areas and now you Misseriya come here for water, graze your cows [and] so we have to abide by the rules of the agreements,” he explained.
Ibrahim Abdu, a Misseriya chief, said they will avoid incidents that occurred in the past.
He urged state authorities to trace all stolen animals and punish the perpetrators.
Yel Aguer Geng, a chief in Northern Bahr el Gazal State, acknowledged incidents of looting and killing, but urged the government to assist in apprehending those responsible.
He challenged the Misseriya to ensure blood compensation is given as required by law.
There were concerns among participants about the absence of authorities from South Kordofan State in such meetings seeking to pave way for better relations in the border.
In the past, Dinka Malual, Misseriya and Rezigat communities have had feuds mainly blamed on political decisions made by governments of both Sudan and South Sudan.
The conference was organized by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), with support from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Veterinaires Sans Frontiers (VSF).
