By Bida Elly David
The government of South Sudan and Kenya has agreed to resolve Nadapal and Nakodok border disputes following recent communal violence between Taposa of South Sudan and Turkana of Kenya.
This consensus came as recommendations following a thorough meeting between a high –level delegation tasked by the government of South Sudan and the Kenyan President, Dr. William Ruto on matters concerning the border tension.
The committee on Friday briefed President Salva Kiir Mayardit on the outcome of the meeting, with the Kenyan authorities.
In a statement seen by No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper on the official presidential Facebook page yesterday, President Kiir directed Louis Lobong Lojore the Governor of Eastern Equatoria State to liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to hold dialogue with Turkana County Governor to address the brutal disputes among the two neighboring communities.
The President’s office however didn’t disclose details of the resolution gathered from the meeting between the two governments over the border row in Nadapal.
On the same note, the Governor of Eastern Equatoria State, Louis Lobong Lojore accepted the presidential directives to collaborate with the ministry of foreign affairs to have talks between the two communities for better interaction.
Lobong pointed out that it is crucial to restore back the relationship between the two communities through dialogue to allow free movement and amicably share grazing land and water points across the border.
Governor Lobong noted that Kenya and South Sudan are sisterly countries with comprehensive relationship in variety of areas thus living in peace is genuine to retain political and economic intimacy.
In 2009, Kenya and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, the ruling party of what was then southern Sudan, signed an agreement to establish a temporary border control post at Nadapal to facilitate cross-border movement of people, goods and services.
Recently Kiir dispatched his special advisor to Nairobi, a move seen as an effort to ease the border tensions between the two countries. The mission came a day after Kenya sent Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria to Juba to deliver a message from President William Ruto.
South Sudan Foreign Affairs Minister Mayiik Ayii Deng said the government hopes to use diplomatic means to resolve the impasse using several parameters to ensure that the tensions between citizens of the two Countries for total mitigation methods.
The meeting is believed to plant the spirit of free forgiveness among the conflicting parties over the boarder issue.