By Matik Kueth
The First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, has called for developing East Africa’s border regions to meet migrant communities’ needs and promote peace among neighboring tribes.
Speaking at a migration summit in Juba, he highlighted frequent clashes among tribes like the Dinga, Gwaii, Toposa, Turkana, and Kambayon over shared territories. Machar urged regional collaboration to turn border zones into areas of unity rather than conflict.
“In my office, I’ve two files. One is on transboundary pastoralists that come to our country every year, particularly from the north. You know that with Sudan, we have a border of 2,250 MK and those who neighbor us are mostly all of them, are pastoralists. I also keep another file. Our pastoralists are these common border tribes. For example, the Hedeka tribes. I think you know Hedeka, Hedeka is the Dinga, Boya, Toposa, Turkana, and Karamojong. In that region, they have a common border. In that region, there are always conflicts. So, with the other four countries, three countries, Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia, we say we must develop these areas so that the common border does not become a conflict area,” Dr. Machar said.
Machar highlighted the need for regional collaboration to address pastoralists’ challenges and emphasized the economic contributions of seasonal migrants. He called for raising awareness of migrant protections under international frameworks while urging inclusive strategies that value both local and migrant communities.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving migration laws, Machar envisioned turning potential conflicts into opportunities for prosperity, fostering social cohesion, and enhancing national security.