Escalating Conflict: Unity State Militias’ Assault on Peace in South Sudan
Escalating Conflict: Unity State Militias’ Assault on Peace in South Sudan
The recent attacks on Ruweng civilians by the Nuer White Army, militias, and deserting Division 4 soldiers represent a culmination of violence and efforts against peace, emanating from Unity State. Throughout this month, assaults have unfolded in various regions including Gogrial (Apuk Giir Thiik), Twic Mayardit, Lakes States (Ciec Manyiel), and now Ruweng Administrative Area (RAA), all orchestrated by armed militias originating from Unity State. The persistent and unprovoked aggression by these Unity State militias, supported by Unity State officials and SPLM-IO militias, targeting their various Jieng neighbors, is deeply rooted in the 2013/16 conflict. This prompts a crucial question: is there truly peace in South Sudan, or are we disregarding a covert conflict disguised as “peace”?
Oil Operations in Ruweng Administrative Area shut down by Unity State Militants
The current violent conflict erupted when the Rubkona County commissioner accused RAA youth and government officials of raiding cattle belonging to IDPs in camps deep within Ruweng. However, the identity of the cattle raiders remains unconfirmed. In response, the RAA government dispatched a team to retrieve the stolen cattle and apprehend the rustlers. After concerted efforts, the team managed to recover approximately 45 cows abandoned in an open field by the rustlers. A group comprising police, army officials, and civil administrators was then dispatched by the Government of RAA to return the cattle and reassure Rubkona county officials of Ruweng’s commitment to pursuing the raiders, recovering the cattle, and ensuring justice.
The meeting point was a police outpost based in Panakuach, RAA. In a brazen act of animus, the Nuer White Army militants under the command of Rubkona County commissioner Clement Kasara opened fire indiscriminately after the handover of cattle. More than 15 people were killed on the spot including the County Executive Director, the leader of the Ruweng delegation. A few others sustained severe injuries while fleeing the scene. The armed militants under Kasara overran the police outpost and proceeded to torch all the villages surrounding Panakuach, resulting in numerous civilian casualties, including a man burned alive in his own tukul—a tactic reminiscent of former Governor Monytuil’s brutal methods.
These rogue militias proceeded to set the nearby GPOC oil fields on fire. Following this assault, oil field officials were evacuated to safer towns in Ruweng. The burning of the oil fields constitutes an act of terrorism and signals the onset of a rebellion against the government of South Sudan. This well-coordinated military campaign surpasses the usual acts of aggression originating from Unity State against Ruweng Administrative Area. After shutting down all oil operations in the area, Mr. Kasara, the Rubkona County commissioner, refused to release the bodies of the deceased for proper burial. Instead, he issued a warning of invasion and the subsequent annihilation of the Ruweng People.
Was this aggressive act by the Nuer Allied Militants an isolated case?
This isn’t the first instance where peace emissaries from RAA have been killed by their neighbors. Last year, a government delegation traveled to Wunkur to celebrate and reaffirm RAA’s commitment to peace and stability in the area. The delegation was warmly received by SPLM-IO forces, and a feast sponsored by RAA’s peace delegation was held. Following the feast, a meeting was held to assure SPLM-IO that the Ruweng people embraced the peace agreement and aimed to coexist with them peacefully. Tragically, as the peace emissaries began their journey back to Panrieng, the RAA headquarters, they were indiscriminately shot at, resulting in the deaths of 7 members of the civil delegation and the confiscation of three vehicles by SPLM-IO forces. Despite efforts to engage the First Vice President’s office directly to retrieve the dead and the confiscated vehicles, the SPLM-IO forces remained defiant and uncompliant. As of now, SPLM-IO still retains possession of the vehicles and has denied the peaceful community of Ruweng the opportunity to retrieve the deceased for a proper burial.
Continued Aggression and Expansionist Policy
Since 2022, Ruweng Administrative Area has sheltered Unity State civilians displaced by floods in Panakuac Payam in Aliiny County, RAA. Simultaneously, Twic County in Warrap and Abyei Administrative Area have also hosted IDPs from Unity State. However, the hospitality extended by these three communities has been rewarded with violence, banditry, and what can only be described as terrorism by Unity State militants in the midst of IDPs directed at their host communities. Moreover, the IDPs hosted in Ruweng Administrative Area in particular have begun asserting claims over these lands, renaming them in an effort to annex them and expand Unity State’s territory, leading to escalating tensions with the host communities.
These annexation efforts are sanctioned by Unity State and her county governments. For instance, in 2022, armed militias from Unity State, under the command of former Deputy Governor Lam Tungwar, attacked villages in Pan Lok of Aliiny County, resulting in numerous civilian deaths and the theft of thousands of cattle. These aggressive tactics, reminiscent of those used by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in the 1970s and 1980s after oil was discovered in the region, aim to intimidate Ruweng civilians to evacuate the area. Earlier this year, former Governor of Unity State Nguen Monytuil entered RAA, presided over the demarcation and expansion of an IDP camp without the consent of Ruweng’s Chief Administrator, claiming jurisdiction over the area—a clear violation of national laws.
In summary, the RAA government and its people, in contrast to the Unity State government, has consistently demonstrated its commitment to peace through proactive measures. However, despite the return of cattle as a goodwill gesture, Rubkona County commissioner Clement Kasara Juol’s forces callously murdered the delegation of select military personnel and unarmed civilians in cold blood, displaying a blatant disregard for peace efforts. This echoes a similar incident illustrated above which occurred last July when SPLA-IO soldiers killed 8 peace emissaries sent by the government of RAA to their station in Wunkur County, RAA.
Why is this violence at the heart of peace efforts in South Sudan?
Many observers may acknowledge that peace remains elusive in South Sudan. The perception of peace among political elites in Juba hinges solely on their own safety secured through power-sharing agreements. As long as Juba itself remains free of gunfire, they maintain the illusion of peace. However, the recent wave of terrorist attacks originating from Unity State signifies that this suffering is no longer confined to Ruweng alone—it threatens to affect the whole country, as evidenced by the rebels’ shutdown of the oil fields in Ruweng.
The closure of these oil fields risks a slump in national oil revenues. This may compel action from the Juba elites who rely on oil revenues to finance their activities. As this cycle of violence continues to plague our nation, these actions will exacerbate the economic conditions which may lead to the collapse of the country’s fragile economy given the runaway inflation. It must also be noted that these well-coordinated attacks by the allied Nuer militants align with the goals of SPLA-IO forces in Unity State, who aim to disrupt the upcoming elections and hold the country hostage in perpetual extensions of peace agreements.
Immediate Action Plan: RAA and South Sudan Government’s Steps to Address Conflict in the Short and Long Term
Ruweng Administrative Area must be empowered to protect civilians within its territories by establishing an independent army division or deploying a couple of army brigades with a command center based in Ruweng. SPPDF’s Division 4, headquartered in Bentiu, functions as a tribal militia used to terrorize communities in Ruweng Administrative Area. Given its jurisdiction over the former Unity State and regular receipt of ammunition and funding from the central government, it consistently acts as a Trojan horse for conducting reconnaissance, gathering intelligence, and exporting violence to RAA communities.
This necessitates the establishment of an independent SSPDF division or multiple brigades under separate command stationed directly within Ruweng. Additionally, creating buffer zones and more police outposts along border villages is essential to protect civilians and combat cattle rustling in peripheral regions. Additionally, the current and previous central commands of Division 4 must be held accountable for permitting the misuse of military resources in aggressive actions against civilians.
Secondly, the IDPs from Unity State must promptly return to their homes in Unity State and vacate RAA to de-escalate tensions and restore peace and order in Ruweng. Former Chief Monyjok Chopkuer, who facilitated their resettlement in Ruweng, initially requested that all IDPs leave their firearms behind in anticipation of potential violence. However, the IDPs insisted on keeping their weapons to safeguard their cattle, a request granted by the chief without regulation on the quantity of firearms brought. Unfortunately, the number of firearms in these camps has since grown unchecked. For instance, the armed group, allegedly the owners of the stolen cattle, accompanying Rubkona Commissioner included RPGs, PKMs, and other heavy weapons. Now that the floodwaters have receded and Unity State communities have proven ungrateful guests, as witnessed in Abyei and Twic, they must return home to alleviate current tensions. The Ruweng people’s generosity has been met with bloodshed, theft, and ongoing insecurity. For the sake of security and prosperity, Ruweng can no longer host people intent on terrorizing them and destabilizing the region.
Conclusion
Some may perceive these statements as divisive or tribalistic, but they are simply factual observations. It is evident that Unity State prominently leads in actions against peace across the country. When attacks are carried out by Nuer armed groups, identifying them as such is not biased but accurate reporting. While the militants may be of Nuer origin, they are mobilized and financed by their leaders to terrorize their neighbors, undermining peace in the country. Leaders from Unity State such as FVP Dr. Riek Machar, VP Taban Deng Gai, and former Unity State Dr. Joseph Nguen Monytuil, among others, who command these militias, need to recognize that their people are best served by peaceful coexistence with their neighbors.
The ongoing ethnic cleansing campaign against the Ruweng Dinka by their own militias threatens to further destabilize the fragile peace in the region. It is imperative that these militias are publicly restrained by their leaders, who must take responsibility for their actions that tarnish the reputation of the peaceful Nuer communities like Leek and Jekeny. Unity State residents must disavow violence, cattle raiding, and any activities that undermine peace if they wish to disassociate themselves from such negative associations. Given the current security situation in South Sudan, they should focus on securing their own borders and refrain from damaging public infrastructure. Genuine peace in South Sudan can only be achieved through honest and transparent dialogue.
It is imperative for the nation to awaken to this truth: we cannot remain passive while our communities suffer amid the false notion of a peaceful country. The current peace agreement is effectively implemented only in Juba, while violence persists unchecked in other regions. Ruweng must be empowered to defend itself against these renegade militias. The government must prioritize the security of its people over appeasing rebels through endless peace agreements. Any individual or group inciting violence must face legal repercussions. The militias from Unity State, currently rampaging through Ruweng Administrative Area and destroying vital oil fields—the backbone of our country’s economy—must be swiftly and decisively dealt with.
By Joseph Dudi Miabok and Piok Deng Mayiik Mei
