By Tereza Jeremiah Chuei
The Commissioners of Melut and Maban Counties of Upper Nile State have agreed that the disputed Kilo Ashara area be demilitarized.
This prompted the Vice President for Economic Cluster Dr. James Wani Igga to hold a meeting between the Governor of Upper Nile, Bodhok Ayang and the Commissioner of Maban and Melut over the matter On Tuesday November 2022.
Governor Bodhok said that, “They (Melut and Maban) have decided that the area should be demilitarized, some areas were identified by the former governor of Northern Upper Nile State at that time to be a buffer zone area,” he noted.
“We as the State government have seconded it and met with the Vice President Dr. Igga and we agreed that the same resolution should apply until there is a resolution from the Presidency,” he added.
The deal between Maban and Melut communities is in line with the 2017 community peace resolution.
Disputes over land boundaries arose after fighting broke out early this month between the natives over ownership of the area.
The disputed Kilo Ashara area is situated east of Maban and west of Melut which is tactically part of Adar Oil field.
In 2017, the two communities clashed prompting the government to form a committee to investigate the incident.
Th committee led by Vice President Dr. James Wani Igga at that time decided to make the disputed area a demilitarized zone.
While the recommendation by then were that Maban move to Jamam area, while Melut community retreat to Kilo 20.
However, of a recent fighting re-ignited where several lives were allegedly lost and hundreds of others displaced.