NAIROBI, KENYA.

Chief Magai Reat Wuor, a popular Nuer chief who was elected to the Dinka-Nuer West Bank Peace Council at the Wunlit Conference in March 1999 was targeted by the Government of Sudan forces and executed. An eyewitness to the killing said that Chief Magai refused to be blindfolded and was executed by government troops under the command of Major General Paulino Matiep. The execution took place between Koch and Leer in Western Upper Nile. However, the killing of Chief Magai has failed to intimidate the Nuer and Dinka communities who are leading a powerful peace movement that is reconciling and uniting the people of south Sudan.

In a follow-up to the historic peace conference held in Wunlit, Sudan in February and March 1999, the New Sudan Council of Churches has facilitated the convening of the Dinka-Nuer West Bank Peace Council. This Council was elected at the Wunlit Conference and charged with the responsibility to see that all the Resolutions and the Wunlit Covenant were implemented. Now, six months after the Wunlit Conference brought an end to seven and a half years of conflict between Dinka and Nuer, the Peace Council has met and reviewed the remarkable progress that has been made.

The following documents have been issued by the Peace Council.

1. Peace Council Communication
2. Working Group I: Return of Missing Persons, Abductees & Cattle

These documents and additional information on the People-to-People peace process can be obtained from the NSCCC. Nairobi telephone: 254 2 446 966; 448 141 / 2; e-mail: peacedesk@swiftkenya.com