Focus On South: Nuer Political Leaders said that they changed ........
Posted on Tuesday, April 19 @ 06:35:23 UTC by mak |
Nuer Political Leaders said that they changed Akobo to be land of Lou Nuer, says Elijah Omot Abula
By Albino O. Deng , Elijah Omot Abula is a Presbyterian Church ordained pastor. Besides his religious mission, Omot has interests in secular politics and development. He monitors very closely the political activities in his birthplace Akobo. He believed that the political leaders of Akobo Province have done very little to address current crisis at home. Albino O. Deng of Sudan Vision asked Pastor Omot to explain and disclose the root causes of Akobo tribal conflict.
Q.: What does Akobo mean in your language?
A.: It means I have traced it. In fact that area is called Ciro. But in the course of movement of Anyuak, they were following meandering watercourse of Akobo. When Anyuak settled at Ciro, they gave the name Akobo where they have settled to remind them how they have come. The landlord of the Akobo was called Abok Demo.
After Second World War, the Lou leaders made an appeal to Anyuak landlords and chiefs to let them seasonally settle close to Akobo River such that they have access to water. They signed an agreement that in dry season Lou Nuer settled near Akobo Rive so that they could drink water along with they cattle and in rainy season, they returned to Lou. Nuer elders who had signed the agreement with the Anyuak chiefs and landlords were Wal, grandfather of Ustaz Tap Kodi, and Kok Diang grandfather of Dr. Riak Gai Kok, Chairman of Coordinating Council for Southern States and Lual Thian.
Also Nuer, Anyuak and Murle chiefs agreed that any person who kills a person must be put to death in the public; and any person who steals a cow must pay three cows. The agreement remained in force until 1972. In 1073 Nuer political leaders said that they want to change to become Lou Nuer land but Anyuak chiefs and landlords refused the proposals.
In response, some Nuer from Lou started their malicious plan. They ambush Anyuak on their way from time to time until 1979. In 1980 Anyuak reacted and tribal conflicts became in full swing. In 1980, when James Sagin was the Commissioner, some Anyuak were killed in his present and Anyuak ran to Ethiopia because all of their villages were burned to ashes.
Q.: Is there any Government at Akobo?
A.: Yes, there is government at Akobo.
Q.: Evans -Prof. of Social Anthropology wrote in his book that Akobo was established in 1911 as a district.
Q.: Which ethnic group was there by then?
A.: Anyuak only.
Q.: What have the Akobo political leaders done to resolve the conflict?
A.: They have done nothing.
Q.: Who do you think is behind the conflict?
A.: Lour Nuer politicians and church leaders. However, in 1986 SPLA Commander, William Nyoun made reconciliation between Nuer and Anyuak. But the split of SPLA in 1991 had caused and renewed the conflict between the two tribes.
Q.: What formula do you think can give everlasting solution?
A.: All politicians and church leaders of Nuer and Anyuak should come together to help SPLM/A solve the problem. Each tribe should stay within the borders of 1956. Between Nuer and Anyuak 35 miles west of Akobo, 45 miles south, 40 miles north of Akobo, and between Akobo and Waat is 75 miles. No one of the two tribes can exist without another one. Each clan should be advised against creating the conflict.
Q.: What message do you want to tell the government of Southern Sudan led by SPLM to settle the problem?
A.: SPLM/A is responsible for peace to prevail in the south. God put all things under Christ's feet and gave him to the church as supreme Lord over all things. The church is Christ's body, the completion of him who himself completes all things everywhere (Eph. 1:22-23). I mean here SpLM/A is the body of the unity of the south and Nuer is part of it.
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