21/04/2024
: TENSION BREWING IN JONGLEI STATE COUNTIES OF TWIC EAST AND DUK AS TWIC EAST COUNTY TRIES TO ANNEX DUK TERRITORIES IN THE EAST OF JONGLEI.
It is surprising that some bad elements of our neighbours of the Twi have decided to do what they now want to do by trying to invade the ancestral land of Nyarweng without caring to consult despite early advices and warning by some of respectable members of their own community or their friends in Duk County community.
We are all aware that the whole territory of Twic East County have been deeply inundated by floods since 2020 and many of their people have taken refuge in the IDPS camps in Guolyar in Yirol East County of Lakes state and Mongalla of the Central Equatoria State while others have become urban IDPS in Bor or Juba and others are persevering in the flood isolated islands in their home territory...
This situation has been compounded the recent decision by the UN WFP decision to stop supporting the two IDPS camps in Guolyar and Mongalla and the residents have to decide to go back home the way they came or settle among the local communities of Aliap and Mandari/ Bari respectively. This is not a simple problem which is not being faced by Twic leaders alone but by all the communities of the three counties of Bor, Twic East and Duk because the initial displacement was caused by the 2013-2016 conflict in Juba which quickly spread and greatly caused displacement not only in Bor town, but in the rural areas of Duk amd Bor counties where fierce battles were fought with the rebellious soldiers of the then Vice President, Dr Riek Machar Teny in places like Pariak upto Bor town and East in Anyidi and North in Baidit, Mathiang and Jalle in Bor County and Kadiang, Poktap, Duk Payuel, Patuenoi, Mareeng, Duk Padiet, Pajut, Tiam and Wunleng in Duk County.
So all are concern about what to do with their displaced people in Guolyar and Mongalla IDPS Camps being abandoned by the WFP and the Greator Bor leaders led by the Caucus of the National Legislators, have been discussing this issue with the national government and the humanitarian agencies since the UN issued such a warning late last year which may be why the UN deadline of 31st December 2023 has passed without action has passed without any UN action even though we are still concerned and looking for a way out.
As National Legislators we have been thinking aloud on this issue and we have been looking at our 2006-2010 project of establishing Kadiang as a Peace Centre for People of Jonglei State(GPAA included) who have reconciled to share development programmes and learn to coexist peacefully with one another, we are planning to use this place also to host the IDPS from the two IDPS camps affected by the UN WFP warning to join in Kadiang the indegenous Panak and Lok lineages of Nyarweng Dinka subtribe with the people from greator Nyarweng-athoon and Nyarweng-ageer, Hol, Twi, Bor and Lou and Gaweer Nuer from Wunroor and Akobo who are already there since January 2022.
We never expected any community to unilaterally think of grabbing lands in Kadiang or its vicinity and create its own colony in a territory that does not belong to them or have been given them by the authorities of Duk County or the indigenous Palumlual.
Lalaken is a cattle camping site of Palimlual clan of Panak lineage of Nyarweng Dinka subtribe.
It is traditional cattle camping site located on the Amuom stream which is boundary between Nyarweng Dinka subtribe and Abuodit, Juet, and Pathuyith sections of Bor Dinka subtribe of Bor County. ..
Lalaken is therefore no where between Twi and Nyarweng Dinka subtribes. The same Amuom stream which divides Bor and Nyarweng in the south, is the one dividing Pakeer, Ajuong, Aulian, Dechuek and Ayual sections of Twi Dinka subtribe in the lower stretches of the stream. The Nyarweng Dinka subtribe and Kongor section of Twi Dinka subtribe border starts a little north of Makeer of Ayual section camping site on Amuom stream to west of Werleng, to a point equidistant between Wernyool on Twi side and Pabarcikok on Nyarweng side going in a stretch line directly west to the river Nile.
I am equating what these people are doing to what the Lou Nuer of Wunroor county did by curving to themselves in their amateur drawn map, a big chank of NyinLok of Duk County and western side of GPAA to have boundary with Bor county just because of the oil potentials.
Any decision to try to grab Lalaken is not in the interest of the traditional normal peaceful coexistence of the two neighbouring communities who have heavily intermarried over centuries.
It is therefore important for these members of Twic East County who went to make their unilateral assessment at Lalaken to stop their uncalled for provocation and join the efforts currently under way for solutions for the IDPS preferably settling them in Kadiang where they need to be supported for self development and self reliance.
By Hon. Philip Thon Leek, Duk County National MP.
