A church still bears the scars of a Sudanese airstrike that took place a few years ago in Abyei, a disputed region between Sudan and South Sudan which has seen several clashes between their troops.
At the end of October, the area's permanent residents voted to join South Sudan in a symbolic referendum. The poll risks antagonising Arab nomads who drive their livestock through Abyei and are loyal to Sudan.
27 Oct 2013 . ABYEI. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic
A women waits to vote in front of a polling station during the unofficial referendum in Abyei, whose fate was left undecided when South Sudan declared independence from Sudan in 2011.
The area remains one of the biggest potential flashpoints between the two Sudans, who have also argued over oil rights and other disputed territories since their split.
The results of the recent poll were not legally binding, and went unrecognised by both countries.
But local leaders said they held the vote because they were tired of waiting for a long-promised official plebiscite on the ownership of the remote region.
31 Oct 2013 . ABYEI. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic
The one-sided vote was cast by the Dinka Ngok people, the group to which this young cattle herder belongs.
The Dinka Ngok occupy most of Abyei's permanent settlements and their loyalty to South Sudan was clearly reflected in the referendum results, which showed 99.9 percent of voters in favour of joining the world’s youngest country.
But the pro-Sudan Misseriya nomads who drive their livestock through the region did not take part in the vote and said it had no official worth.
31 Oct 2013 . ABYEI. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic
Despite the lack of government recognition for the referendum, voters still joyously celebrated the results.
This month Abyei town became a makeshift tent city as tens of thousands of Dinka Ngok returned to make their home, some from as far as Australia.
A festival mood took over Abyei, where in May 2008 and May 2011 Sudan Armed Forced attacked and seized the town forcing more than 100,000 people to flee.
Locals in traditional dress celebrated with singing and dancing and a cow was slaughtered and divided up between the nine Dinka Ngok chiefdoms in a party expected to go all night.
25 Oct 2013 . ABYEI. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic
Waterways snake across the disputed territory of Abyei.