21/08/2026
South Sudan History: The Aliab uprising of October 1919 to May 1920 (The written account only)
The Aliab Uprising started on October 30, 1919 when 3000 Aliab Warriors attacked the government post in Mingkaman killing 8 soldiers and overran the post. The Mamur and some of his men escaped to Bor-Town.
The Governor of Mongalla, Captain Chauncey Hugh Stigand, organized a larger force and plan an attack starting on November 7. On December 8, 1919, Aliab ambushed and defeated the government force at Pap, killing several men including the governor. The remaining soldiers retreated to Mongalla.
The grievances of the Aliab people were there since the government started taxation in the land but flared up in 1918. In the 1918 tax year, the Mamur took away a black & white ox (Muor Mangar) belonging to one of the young men as tax. That “Muor Mangar” had just been bought by the man for several cows. To make the matters worth, the young man was not around when the Mamur, Yuzbashi Abdal Aziz Sumit, an Egyptian national, took the ox. When the young man heard the news, he was angry. Him and his cousin went out to look for the Mamur. They ran into two government engineers working on telegraph lines from Tombe to Tali. They speared the two men to death.
The Mamur requested Chief Anok Nyinger that the two men be brought before the government and be held accountable. Chief Anok beseeched the Mamur that the 2 men be made to pay blood cows as per Aliab tradition instead of imprisonment or worst, the death penalty. The Mamur initially accepted to take the blood cows. He collected the cows and instead of releasing the men, he hanged them. This upset the Aliab beyond any limitation. The Aliab started to plan the attack on the government in 1919. Anok Nyinger had died in early 1919 and it was his sons Kon and Wol who planned the attack.
Kon Anok informed Bor chiefs about the plan. Chief Yuot Alier, sent a delegation to assure Aliab that Bor will join the attack by overrunning Bor-Town. The plan to attack Bor was immediately leaked to the Inspector of Bor District, Major P.G.W Maynard who immediately request reinforcement for both Bor and Kongor Government Posts. At that time, Aliab, Ciec Twic, Bor and Duk were all under Bor District. On the agreed date of October 30, Aliab attacked Mingkaman but the attack on Bor-Town did not materialize.
The Aliab successfully overrun Mingkaman, killing 8 soldiers and forcing the Mamur to run to Bor-Town. In response, the Governor mobilized a bigger force from Equatoria and Upper Nile Provinces and attacked Aliab starting on November 7. On December 8, 1919, Aliab ambushed and defeated the government force at Pap. The Governor, Captain Chauncey Hugh Stigand, was killed together with Major R.F. White, the Commandant of the Equatorial Battalion. Total of 30 government soldiers were killed and 23 wounded.
It was not till March 1920, that the government was able to muster a force that was capable of defeating the Aliab. The entire Aliab land was overrun and over 500 warriors were shot dead, around 7000 cattle were taken. Kon Anok Nyinger was arrested on May 6, 1920, and taken to Mongalla where he died in captivity.
Pictures:
1) A Dinka Warrior,
2) Governor of Mongalla, Captain Chauncey Hugh Stigand killed in the Uprising,
3) Government house in Mongalla where Kon Anok was detained.
Sources
• Report by R.G.C Brock on the Aliab Patrol of 9 May 1920.
• Thesis of Lazarus Leek Mawut, Durham University.
• The Aliab Dinka Uprising and its suppression by R.O Collins.
• The Upper Nile Handbook.
