Unity state governors deny warning of “massive war” over new states
January 4, 2016 (JUBA)-Traditional leaders and state governors from the three states representing the former unity state in South Sudan have issued a statement dismissing as misleading and false reports that paramount chiefs and other prominent traditional leaders in the area have warned of massive war over the creation of 28 states.
“We, the three Governors of the newly created states of former Unity state, are hereby refuting the unfounded allegations made by the enemies of peace in regard to the creation of 28 states”, partly reads the statement extended to Sudan Tribune.
The leaders were reacting to reports attributing the statements to paramount chiefs of Bul, Leek and JikanyNuer of former Unity state condemning the creation of 28 states.
The reports also alleged that there are chunks of Bul, Leek and Jikany lands which are annexed to the newly created Ruweng state.
“We want to categorically state to the people of South Sudan that no single Nuer village or land is annexed to Ruweng state. The boundaries of the newly created 28 states have not been demarcated because no boundary committee has been set up. According to Establishment Order Number 36 that created the 28 states, the Council of states will form a Boundary Committee that shall demarcate the boundaries of the newly created 28 states”, the statement added.
But the leaders in their statement categorically denied knowing of the traditional leaders in the area to have come out to oppose the creation of more states.
“We, the three Governors of Ruweng, Northern Liech and Southern Liech, want to inform the international community and the people of South Sudan that no paramount chiefs from the Nuer of Greater Unity state condemned the creation of 28 states, it adds.
The media reports, according to the group, were misrepresentation, concoction and allegedly activities aimed at undermining the traditional authority of the Nuer by naming people who are not chiefs as paramount chiefs of Bul, Leek and Jikany.
The statement also denied traditional leaders to whom the statements were attributed were chiefs except TunguarKweiguong which it claimed to be in Khartoum for treatment and never spoken to any media over the matter.
Tunguar Kweiguong, the paramount chief of Leek that has been referred to, is in Khartoum for treatment. His son Lam Tunguar was a Minister of Youth and Sport in the former Unity state Government and will also be one of the key ministers in the upcoming cabinet of Northern Liech state. Chief Tunguar, after being consulted by his son, denied making any statement in the media regarding the creation of 28 states.
According to him, the words attributed to him might have been made by an impersonator who pretended to be Chief Tunguar Kweiguong.
It also refuted allegations that Joseph Koang Yoach was a paramount chief of Jikany clan of former Unity state. He was allegedly removed by the former Governor of Unity state, Taban Deng Gai from being a sub-chief in 2011.
“Any reference to him as a paramount chief of Jikany is a violation of Nuer customary law and it is a punishable crime”.
The statement warned that anybody making false and unfounded allegations in regard to the boundaries of the newly created states was either putting the cart before the horse or is an anti-peace element who wants to ignite a tribal conflict among communities.
(ST)