Watchdog urges UNISFA to publicize details of Ngok Dinka-Misseriya peace deal

JUBA – A South Sudanese civil society organization is urging the United Nations Interim Security for Abyei (UNISFA) to publicize a four-point document signed by the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya tribe in Uganda last week to reiterate their willingness to work to achieve permanent peace in the disputed Abyei region.

On May 19, the UNISFA said the two tribes under its mediation reached “a breakthrough” raising hope for end to the killing and displacement of civilians in the disputed area where armed Arab militia men have been terrorizing villages.

“In a major breakthrough, the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka traditional leaders have signed a peace accord reiterating their commitment to achieving lasting peace in Abyei Area,” the UNISFA said in a statement seen by Sudans Post on May 19th.

“The leaders committed to advocating for inter-community dialogue to promote the protection of women and children as well as livestock and property. They also pledged to be the tool for fostering peace between the two communities and to meet regularly in the quest for peace,” it added.

The agreement has however not been made public and the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) – which had welcomed the signing of that agreement after mediation efforts from the UNISFA – is urging the UN mission to publicize the document signed.

“Community Empowerment for Progress Organization congratulates the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya including the remarkable leadership of UNISFA for this positive development. It is a time for the signed four-point communiqué to be made public as official document in the website of UNISFA,” the CEPO said in a statement.

The Executive Director of CEPO, Edmund Yakani, said the agreement has not yet been published or made public by the UNISFA mediation and urged the UN peacekeeping mission to publicize the agreement for the sack of transparency.

“Up to now, the 22nd May, 2022, there is only brief information on the content of the signed four-point communiqué between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya on 19th May, 2022 in Uganda. The brief information about the content of the signed four-point communiqué only centered on the leaders committed to advocating for inter-community dialogue to promote the protection of women and children as well as livestock and property. They also pledged to be the tool for fostering peace between the two communities and to meet regularly in the quest for peace,” Yakani said.

“Several attempts through email communication with UNISFA and research on UNISFA website, the details of the signed four-point communiqué are nowhere to be found,” the outspoken activist further added.

He said that the decision by the UNISFA not to publicize the agreement “is disturbing and challenges the ethic of transparency to information and availability of accurate information timely for public consumption under the concept of right to access information from UNISFA. We are urging UNISFA to urgently avail the detail information on the signed four-point communiqué in their website as a reliable and accurate source of information.

“CEPO only viewed the brief information in UNISFA website on the positive development between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya in Uganda. This positive development is impressive and remarkable but detail of the signed four-point communiqué should be avail by UNISFA for public consumption.”