By Hou Akot Hou
A joint peace committee has reviewed blood compensation among two border communities, Dinka Malual of South Sudan and Reizigat of Darfur, Sudan.
Dinka Malual Peace Committee secretary, Majok Deng Akuacdit told No.1 Citizen Newspaper that the matter was settled in a meeting on Thursday, last week.
“Pressing talking points that drew attention ranged from blood compensation and its implementation to avoid people developing other sentiments around it,” Majok revealed.
According to Majok, in previous accord, a cow meant for blood compensation would be 150,000 SSP, but that raised issues between the two communities, which made them seek redress around those issues.
“We sat and discussed issues such as blood compensation, like one cow was bought for 150,000 SSP, but as things are hiking both of us, as peace committee saw it important to modify it. The two sides sat and agreed that a blood compensation would be 41 cows, but would be paid 20 million, if the killing is intentional,” Majok explained.
The committee also agreed on different compensations for unintentional killing and intentional killing.
“If the killing, on both sides, is unintentional, then the culprit has to pay 10 million SSP to cover 21 cows, and we said cows can pass on in the process of bringing them to the courts, so they could be paid in form of money,” Majok stressed.
The Dinka Malual committee secretary added that they have a fresh case of a suspect who is being accused of having stolen a motorbike from Northern Bahr El Gazal and ran to Darfur.
He is now being sought after by the Rezigat peace committee, whom he said have agreed to.
The two parties also agreed to monitor both sides, and if the culprits or suspects are seen carrying weapons, then they have to be disarmed before crossing River Kiir to the side of Northern Bhar El Gazal state.
The meeting was convened in regard to pre and post-migration peace conference, to review previous accords that the two communities signed to help peaceful co-existence.
The conference aimed at alleviating and improving tensions that arise along the bordering communities of Northern Bahr El Ghazal state in South Sudan and Rezigat nomadic communities of Darfur, Sudan.
Dinka Malual Peace Committee secretary said the Rezigat Peace Committee to the conference in Northern Bahr El Ghazal, comprised of 11 members from Darfur.
Majok said that the Reziigat peace representatives were appreciative of the efforts being geared towards enhancing stability and peaceful coexistence along the bordering areas despite some loopholes being encountered.
“They were headed by Muhamud Mussa and his delegation was joined by 12 paramount chiefs of Malual community. We deliberated on previous matters that occurred between the Dinka Malual and the Rezigat. The meetings were fruitful,” he stated.
Majok stated that the Rezigat peace representatives pledged to uphold the peace initiatives that the partners, such as United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), have been supporting.
Blood compensation is a norm among many communities in South Sudan. Whereas some communities accept animals or cash in settlement, others consider human beings and girls to be the prime victims of the practice.
Among some communities in Eastern Equatoria state, for instance, a girl below the age of ten years was considered for blood compensation, however, this has several times raised concerns of human rights violations.