09/07/2025
The Forgotten Voices of Jonglei State: Advocating for the Inclusion of the Anyuak Community
By Opiew Opiew
In a country striving to rebuild itself from decades of conflict, there can be no peace without inclusion, and no unity without justice. Yet in Jonglei State, one community continues to be left behind, unheard, and unrepresented: the Anyuak people of Akobo County.
Despite being one of the indigenous communities of South Sudan, the Anyuak have faced years of systematic marginalization at the hands of both political leaders and humanitarian actors. In government structures, they are notably absent. In peace conferences, their voices are missing. In developmental activities and NGO programs, their community is bypassed entirely. It is a crisis of invisibility that threatens the very fabric of inclusive governance in Jonglei State.
The exclusion of the Anyuak is not new, but it has deepened in recent years. While other communities in Jonglei State enjoy representation in government institutions, employment opportunities, and access to services, the Anyuak of Akobo County are left with no political appointments, no development projects, and no organizational support. Their local leaders have raised concerns repeatedly, but their appeals have fallen on deaf ears. The result is a community that suffers in silence. Their youth are unemployed. Their elders are disrespected. Their traditions are ignored. And their future is uncertain.
Even more troubling is the absence of humanitarian outreach. Few, if any, national or international NGOs are active in Akobo County. While peace workshops and reconciliation forums are held in various parts of Jonglei State, the Anyuak are never invited to participate. In the eyes of many, they have become the invisible citizens of Jonglei—present but never counted.
Marginalization is not just a political problem—it is a threat to peace and national stability. When communities are excluded from decision-making, they lose trust in the system. When development passes them by, they are pushed deeper into poverty and frustration. When their identity is erased from public life, resentment takes root. The people of Akobo have remained peaceful and patient despite these injustices. But peace should never be mistaken for acceptance of oppression. True peace can only exist where justice is upheld, and equality is practiced.
In light of this ongoing injustice, we call upon the government of Jonglei State and all stakeholders to act now. The Anyuak community must be given its rightful place in the political, social, and economic life of the state. Their representation is not a favor—it is a constitutional and moral obligation. We specifically demand the inclusion of Anyuak leaders in the state government and civil service; their full participation in all peace conferences, reconciliation forums, and state-level decision-making processes; the expansion of NGO and humanitarian operations into Akobo County, ensuring equitable service delivery; and national recognition of the contributions, culture, and rights of the Anyuak people.
The road to a united South Sudan begins with inclusion. We cannot build a nation on selective development and partial justice. We must bring every community on board—no matter how small, how silent, or how forgotten they may seem. The Anyuak of Akobo are South Sudanese. They are part of Jonglei State. And they deserve the same rights, recognition, and representation as every other group. To ignore them is to undermine peace. To include them is to honor justice. Let their voices be heard. Let their place be published restored. Let inclusion be the foundation of our future.
The writer, Opiew Opiew Gilo, is a South Sudanese national.
