Jonglei MP “surprised” by warning from E. Equatoria over Kasengor district
April 30, 2014 (JUBA) – A member of parliament representing Pibor county in Jonglei state’s legislative assembly said on Wednesday that he was surprised by a warning issued by Eastern Equatoria state lawmakers over the Kasengor district that borders the two states.
Jodi Boyoris Jonglei, who represents constituency number 13 Pibor South in the Jonglei assembly in Bor, described the claim that Kasengor is part of Eastern Equatoria’s Kapeota East county as “a lie”.
“If you check the map of 1956 you will find that Kasengor is part of greater Upper Nile region,” said Boyoris, referring to a colonial map from the year that Sudan became independent from British and Egyptian rule. When South Sudan seceded from Sudan 2011 the two sides agreed to draw the new international border as it was in 1956.
However, there is no map that clearly shows the where the border between South Sudan and Sudan was on 1 January 1956. Demarcating the world’s newest international border is one of the many issues that remain unresolved between Juba and Khartoum as South Sudan approaches its third anniversary of independence.
Boyoris said that he would notify the caretaker governor of Jonglei state about eastern Equatoria state’s claims over Kasengor.
Members of Eastern Equatoria state assembly resolved on Tuesday to write a letter of complaint to Council of States – the Upper House of South Sudan’s parliament – about the matter after reports emerged that South Sudan’s minister of defense Kuol Manyang Juuk referred to Kasengor as district in Pibor of Jonglei state.
A member of Eastern Equatoria’s state assembly representing Kapeota East county, Benjamin Lopeyoj Kumuya claimed Kasengor belongs to the Jie tribe of Eastern Equatoria.
(ST)