By Bida Elly David
President Salva Kiir has issued an order for a peaceful relocation of a Nuer spiritual leader from Warrap State.
The decision comes amidst rising communal tensions among communities in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal, Warrap, and Abyei Administrative Areas.
Kiir issued the directive via an order broadcasted on Tuesday evening over the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Cooperation (SSBC) television.
Kiir, in his order, directed the governors of the above-mentioned geographical locations to continue engaging politicians, military leaders, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders in their respective areas in a bid to find lasting peace between the conflicting communities.
“The relevant security institutions of our country must deploy neutral forces to the conflict-affected areas with clear operational orders to restore law and order,” the order stated.
President Kiir further directed the expulsion of Gai Machiek, a renowned Nuer spiritual leader, from the Jakuat area of Warrap State.
“The security forces must ensure that Mr. Gai Machek, the Nuer spiritual leader, is expelled from a Jakuat area Warrap state and peacefully returns to either Unity State or move to another state of his choice within the Bahr-El-Ghazal other than Warrap state and Abyei Special Administrative Area.’
The head of state also directed the withdrawal of Nuer youth present in Twic and Ngok back to their land or away from the area of conflict.
“The security forces must also ensure that the Nuer youth present in Twitc and Ngok areas are moved either back to the Nuer land or away from the area of conflict to states such as Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal, Western Bahr-el-Ghazal Gazelle, or Lakes,” he ordered.
Kiir added that the relevant security forces, law enforcement agencies, and legal institutions must ensure that any politician, person, or group of politicians or persons who incite violence on both or both sides of their respective communities should be summoned, questioned, or apprehended by the relevant authorities.
He further directed that land borders and boundaries in conflict-affected areas of Twic Dinka, Ngok, Apuk, and Marial Baai, including the question of a BA box, be put on hold.
“The leadership shall devise a peaceful means to resolve it accordingly. This order shall equally apply to other land borders and boundary-related conflict in other parts of the country,” he directed.
However, he also directed serious engagement of youth by the governors and chief administrators of the conflicting areas to desist from violence.
“Governors of Warrap State, Western Bahr-El-Ghazal State, and the chief administrator of Abyei Special Administrative Area, together with governors from neighboring states, are directed to engage the youth in their respective states or to disengage and desist from violence,” he noted.
He urged the communities to embrace peaceful coexistence, including engaging the youth in agriculture, peace, and developmental projects, as well as income-generating activities.
“All the relevant security organs must continue to carry out armed search and peaceful disarmament of the civil population in western Bahr-el-Ghazal state as well as other parts of the country,” he echoed.
SSPDF, the police, and NSS are directed to ensure that these aforementioned orders are enforced and maintained accordingly.
In November last year, at least 32 people were killed during ethnic fighting between the Twic Community of Warrap and the Ngok Dinka Community of Abyei Administrative Area (AAA).
Not only that, there has been a continuous dispute between the communities of Apuk and Marial Baai, where both have waged counterattacks.
On January 10 and 11, 2024, some state governors and chief administrators of Abyei Special Administrative Area and Ruweng administrative met in a bid to resolve inter-communal violence between the respective sisterly communities.