From raids to reconciliation: Calm returns to Aweil East border after renewed peace talks

AWEIL – After years of recurring cattle raids and retaliatory attacks, the Aweil East border in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal State is witnessing a rare period of calm, following renewed peace talks between the Dinka Malual community and nomadic groups from Sudan.

Local peace leaders say cross-border violence has sharply declined in recent months, with fewer incidents of cattle theft, armed confrontations, and revenge killings that have historically strained relations between the Dinka Malual, Misseriya, and Rezigat communities.

The chairperson of the Aweil East Border Peace Committee, Luka Lual Nhial, attributed the improved security situation to a four-day peace review symposium held last week in Wanyjok Town and organised by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The gathering brought together traditional chiefs, youth and women leaders, and government officials from South Sudan, alongside representatives of the Misseriya and Rezigat communities from Sudan.

“The meeting brought together 35 participants from Dinka Malual chiefs, youth, women, and local authorities, alongside representatives of the Misseriya and Rezigat,” Nhial said. “It was a critical step in reviewing previous agreements and reaffirming our collective commitment to peace.”

He explained that the dialogue focused on revisiting past resolutions designed to address the root causes of border conflict, including disputes over cattle raiding, loss of life, and seasonal grazing movements.

One of the key resolutions reaffirmed during the talks was the compensation mechanism for victims of intercommunal violence. Under the agreement, compensation equivalent to 41 cows, paid in monetary value, is required in cases where a person is killed during cross-border conflict.

The meeting also renewed commitments on grazing arrangements for nomadic herders who cross into South Sudan during the dry season. Nhial said herders are now required to notify host communities and local authorities before entering grazing zones to prevent clashes with farmers cultivating land near the border.

“We agreed that nomadic groups must alert local leaders before arriving, so that farming activities are respected and misunderstandings are prevented,” he noted.

According to Nhial, the impact of the renewed peace process is already visible on the ground. He said no killings or major violent incidents have been reported along the Aweil East border so far this year — a marked departure from past cycles of raids and retaliation.

“From raids, we are now moving toward reconciliation. There are no reports of killings this year, and we want our communities to continue on this peaceful path,” he said.

Nhial acknowledged that isolated cases of cattle theft still occur but stressed that these incidents are minimal and driven by individual opportunism rather than organised community action. He urged continued cooperation to ensure the gains made through the renewed peace talks are sustained.