Displaced Nuer continue to arrive in Lakes state

November 12, 2014 (RUMBEK) – Displaced Nuer residents from South Sudan’s Unity state are continuing to arrive in neighbouring Lakes state after fleeing renewed fighting between rebel and government forces.

Amonying payam (district), north-east of Rumbek Central county, has received more than 200 displaced people, mostly women, children and the elderly.

Rumbek Central county commissioner Mawet Manuer Kook confirmed that host communities have been mostly friendly, even sharing their limited food supplies with the new arrivals.

“They are arriving in big numbers and host communities are taking care of them very well,” said Kook. “There is no fear at all since they reached Lakes state.”

Most of those displaced hail from the Unity state counties of Pinyjiar, Mayom and Mayendit.

Residents of Lakes and Unity states have resumed normal trade and business operations over the past two weeks.

Lakes state communities remain deeply dissatisfied with state government policies and say they will continue to defy orders not to cooperate with Unity state.

In January 2013, Lakes state communities refused to join a massive military mobilisation, saying that Lakes state shared historical ties with Unity state.

Meanwhile, police deployed in the Lakes state capital, Rumbek to quell security threats were recently withdrawn due to poor relations between the public and law-enforcement authorities.

Lakes state’s military caretaker governor, Matur Chut Dhuol, refused to comment on the withdrawal of these forces.

President Salva Kiir continues to overlook repeated calls from civil society activists, intellectuals, lawmakers and traditional leaders for the caretaker governor to be removed.

Dhuol was appointed by Kiir in January 2013 to replace elected governor Chol Tong Mayay.

(ST)