10/08/2026
Thousands Protest In Turalei Over Twic-abyei Border Election Dispute.
Turalei Town, TWIC County __Thousands of residents from the TWIC MAYARDIT community, joined by the local civil society organisation staged a massive peaceful protest this morning in Turalei, the headquarters of TWIC County.
The demonstration was triggered by the national government's recent announcement allowing Abyei citizens to exercise their constitutional voting rights at the South Kiir river area. The TWIC MAYARDIT community firmly asserts that this specific territory belongs to TWIC county, specifically falling within the jurisdiction of the Ajak-kuac payam.
The demonstrators marched through the streets of Turalei Town holding high banners that read "No Ajak-kuac, No Vote In TWIC County"
TWIC and Abyei communities have a long-standing volatile conflict over the ownership of Aneet land and its surrounding areas. The TWIC MAYARDIT community strongly objects to the Ngok Dinka community of Abyei conducting general election activities on what they claim is TWIC ancestral land.
Protesters declared that they will not tolerate external electoral exercise within their borders, warming that allowing the vote to proceed under current terms threatens local sovereignty and peace.
Civil society leaders at the rally called on the government of the republic of South Sudan to urgently address the border demarcation before proceeding with the election plans to prevent further escalation between the communities.
