Mayom intellectuals warn of violence over S. Sudan’s new states
October 19, 2015 (JUBA) – A group of intellectuals from Mayom county in South Sudan’s Unity state say tensions could occur between Abiemhnom and Bul Nuer tribes following the wave of alarmist statements being escalated by youth from Abiemhnom community.
Peter Puok, the official spokesperson of Mayom Intellectual Forum (MIF), said the Alor Bul had no territorial boundary with Mayom county.
“In fact, Abiemhnom has no boundary with Parieng county. As they claimed that Parieng is located in the north east of Abiemnhom and Western Kordofan state in the north, all these claims are baseless and not correct,” Puok told Sudan Tribune on Monday.
He said the present group of Alor Dinka were initially displaced from Parieng suburbs in 1930 after clan fighting between Awet Bil (Abiemnhom) and Awet Rial (Parieng) forcing massive displacement to Mayom County with settlement of victims north-west of Man-nyang, the current Abiemnhom area.
The group warned the Alor Dinka against making false statements, adding that such a claim jeopardises the good relations between Mayom and Abiemnhom communities.
“We Mayom intellectuals do hereby acknowledge that there is no single reason for the people of Abiemnhom to claim this land belongs to them. The groups have forgotten that the land was given to them by Mayom residents,” the group stressed in the statement.
Mayom county, Puok said, borders Abiemnhom in the north west, South Kordofan in the north and Rubkotna in the east of South Sudan oil-rich Unity state. He criticised President Kiir for expanding states minus putting geographical areas in the right places.
“We are here to inform our people of Abiemnhom to be mindful and think wisely. For we have no problem with the new creation of Ruweng state, but remember that the land belongs to the people of Mayom. Now the choice is in your hands, either to evacuate the land and go back to Parieng peacefully or remain peaceful with us,” Puok stressed.
The creation of 28 states by president Kiir has drawn mixed reactions from both the local and international communities, claiming that it violated and recently-signed peace deal between the armed opposition faction led by former vice president, Riek Machar.
Last week, the Mayom and Rubkotna county communities criticised the partitioning of Unity State into three provinces, warning the decision would destabilise the good relations between people of the state, should most of their ancestral lands be cut away.
(ST)