Bul Nuer community say new states will create more conflicts

October 10, 2015 (JUBA) – The Bul community in South Sudan’s Unity state have welcome the creation of 28 new states in the country, but warned that the decision to partition Unity State could create more conflict.

James Lily Kuol, the chairperson of Bul Community in Juba, agrees with President Salva Kiir’s decree, despite reservations that his community was unhappy with giving away some parts of their territory to other tribes.

Kuol, however, warned that isolating the Dinka-dominated counties of Parieng and Abiemnhom would have repercussions once they are separated from the Nuer tribe.

This, he said, will create ethnic tension should some sections of Nuer land be cut away.

“The community noted that some ethnic groups have lived in harmony with each other for centuries like the Alor tribe in Abiemhom with Bul Nuer for almost century, which is now annexed to Ruweng tribe forming Ruweng state in the decree without any previous administrative, political and geographical link,” partly reads the community’s statement.

“The community noted with concern that such annexation may trigger tribal conflicts especially when land belonging to others are confiscated and given away to certain ethnic groups. All ethnic groups know their boundaries and will not at any cost relinquish an inch to go like that,” it added.

To avoid escalation of conflict, the community proposed that Unity state be divided into Jebel state, which is composed of Guit, Koch, Leer, Mayiandit and Payinjiar counties) and Ghazal state, comprising of Rubkotna, Parieng, Mayom and Abiemhnom counties.

Mayom and Rubkotna counties of Unity state are currently dominated by the Nuer tribe.

President Kiir’s decree on creation of 28 new states in the world’s youngest nation has drawn mixed reactions from sections of people, with the armed opposition chairperson, Riek Machar, describing the South Sudanese leader’s new directive as unconstitutional.

(ST)