Jonglei’s Uror county youth dismiss attack on Duk county
November 14, 2013 (JUBA) – The Uror Youth Association (UYA) has dismissed claims that members of their youth had attacked a neighbouring Duk county in the troubled Jonglei state and instead accused the authority of Duk county for provoking the situation.
Youth from the Dinka ethnic group of Duk county held a protest on Monday in Jonglei alleging that Pajut, the headquarters of Panyang District of Duk county, was attacked and occupied by Lou Nuer youth on Monday 11 November.
They also accused unnamed politicians of instigating the border conflicts between the two counties.
At least a total of 14 people were killed: 9 from Duk and 5 from Uror with many others wounded from both sides in the inter-communal clash.
However, in a press statement issued on Thursday and seen by the Sudan Tribune, the Lou-Nuer youth of Uror county said no attack took place in the territory of the neighbouring Duk county.
They further claimed that it was the Duk county authority that tried to grab Panyang payam [district] which they said was part of Uror county, explaining that Duk authorities illegally tried to erect their flag in the area which has been historically inhabited by the Lou-Nuer and part of the present day Uror county.
“The claim made by Duk youth that Uror is grabbing land and annexing some of eastern part of Duk County is fabricated lies which are baseless and lack substantial evidence,” the UYA statement asserted.
They said the skirmishes occurred when the host community of Panyang payam tried to resist the attempt by the Duk county authority to administratively annex their land and take it away from Uror.
The Uror youth also condemned what they said was a direct involvement of some members of South Sudan army on the side of Duk county per the order of their commissioner.
They appeal for calm and peaceful co-existence between the two neighbouring communities and called on the state and national governments to resolve the misunderstandings on the boundaries of the two counties.
Leaders in the national and state governments who hail from Uror county of Lou-Nuer include the current minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Barnaba Marial Benjamin and the acting governor of Jonglei state, Hussein Mar Nyuot.
On the other hand, the former governor of Jonglei state, Philip Thon Leek, who is also a member of the national parliament, comes from Duk county.
(ST)