The Amiet common market for the Ngok Dinka and  Misseriya communities reopened on 19 July 2017, after an agreement was reached between the leaders of both communities.

The temporary suspension of trading activity in Amiet common market on 10 July 2017 resulted from the security incidents in the vicinity of Amiet.   More than 200 trucks loaded with a variety of goods for trading were affected. 

Stepping up security measures, the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) created the conditions for the two communities to interface with each other through their traditional leaderships and peace committees to enable a return to trading activity.  

Gratitude to UNISFA

Traditional community leaders of both Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities, as well as officers of the Joint Peace Committee, expressed their gratitude to UNISFA  for its support.

Over the past week, UNISFA facilitated the discussions between communities to come up with an agreement on resuming trading activity  by agreeing on several issues on the market’s operations including reorganizing its layout, accommodation of traders, as well as security situation along the road from the north and south leading to Amiet.

“Amiet market plays an essential role in the daily lives of people here in Abyei and the surrounding villages – both for the Misseriyas and the Ngok Dinkas,” said Isay Musa Gamet, traditional community leader of the Misseriya in Abyei Area. “We are very grateful that UNISFA is here to help support efforts for families and individuals to live harmoniously as brothers and sisters.”

“Without the full support of UNISFA, we could not have re-opened this market. UNISFA has a key role in safeguarding not just the villages and the market, but also securing highways leading to Amiet,” said Nyol Paguot Deng, Deputy Paramount Chief of the Ngok Dinka and the Chairperson of the Joint Peace Committee.

“The temporary closure of this market brought the economic crisis to both communities, and both parties suffered,” Nyol Paguot Deng added.

Way forward

Along with the regular security patrol activities, UNISFA continues to support the grass roots conflict resolution mechanisms in place between the two communities. The peaceable resumption of trading activity is an indicator of the resilience of these mechanisms.