Is it the Ngok Dinka of Abyei, The UNISFA, or The South Sudan Government?
By Morris Kuol Yoll,
May 15, 2022 — On May 8th and 9th 2022, Twic County was attacked by joined forces composed of the United Nations Interim Security Forces for Abyei (UNISFA), Abyei Mission Brigade, and South Sudan People Defense Forces (SSPDF). The attack came as a surprise to the Twic Community Worldwide.
On April 4th, 2022, the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement was signed between both Twic and Ngok Communities. However, a series of violations, perpetrated by Ngok of Abyei, as well as a well-coordinated joint attack by Abyei Mission and Abyei Youth, the UNISFA, and the SSPDF forces were sequentially launched against Twic County on the 8th and 9th of May.
These persistent attacks occurred after the conclusion of an investigation into the communal fight between Twic County and Abyei’s Ngok Dinka, which had, in turn, resulted in the enforcement of the signing of a ceasefire agreement between the two communities. After the signing of this agreement, the committee was to submit its findings to the President, Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit within twenty-one days, after which, in three months, there was to be held a final conflict resolution discussion in which the conflict between the two communities would be resolved.
For their part, the Twic community welcomed the cessation of the Hostility peace agreement which was signed on April 4th, 2022. After this, as stated, the committee was to immediately table its findings after twenty-one days.
Unexpectedly, however, the committee did not submit its findings to the President for more than a month after the Cessation of Hostility Agreement was signed in Aweil, Northern Barh El-Ghazal State. Further, the Abyei Special Administration led by General Kuol Diem, along with his allies, attacked Twic county, violating the 13-points cease-fire agreement that had emphatically stressed bringing to book any who would breach this agreement.
Astonishingly, it is in fact the commissioner of Twic County that is being called to Juba to account for the attack launched against his own County by the Abyei Special Administration. The actual perpetrator of the attack, Gen. Kuol Diem of Abyei Special Administration is, inexplicably, not being called upon to answer for his violation of the agreement.
In addition, Gen. Makal, deployed in Majak-Kol by the Government of South Sudan to maintain peace and security between Twic and Abyei by the South Sudan government, joined its forces with the Abyei Special Administration force and the UNISFA to attack Twic County on two consecutive days: May 8th and May 9th, 2022. Still, the government of South Sudan remains silent.
The President of the Republic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of Defense for South Sudan have said nothing about these attacks on Twic County in response to the violation of the international boundaries violated by these foreign forces.
This begs the question: Why the Silence?
Is the South Sudan government unaware that its own territory is being violated by the UNISFA and Abyei forces and militia?
Despite the ceasefire agreement enforced by the government and signed by both parties, Twic County was attacked by these three forces, namely the UNISFA, Abyei Brigade, and the SSPDF forces.
Who is really fighting with the Twic people, the UNISFA, The South Sudan Government, or the Ngok Dinkas of Sudan?
It is apparent that the attack on Twic Society is an organized plan.
First, when the communal fighting broke out between Twic and Ngok communities in Aneet, the President of the Republic of South Sudan appointed the committee led by Hussein Abdulbagi Ayi, despite the concerns of the Twic Community as to the neutrality of the Vice President, Hussien Abdulbagi.
Secondly, a renowned cattle raider, Brigadier General Makal Deng Kuol, from the Division 4 military, was immediately instructed to be deployed in Majak-Kol against the wishes of the Twic Community. Ironically, year after year, Brig. Gen. Makal is engaged in raiding Twic County to steal cattle. Not least, Gen. Makal Kuol is from Abyei, and his people of Abyei are fighting Twic County. How could he be trusted to keep the peace between the two communities?
Thirdly, the Abyei Mission Brigade was formed and armed by the South Sudan Government, and is currently, by proxy, under the SSPDF. The Abyei Mission Brigade has now turned its guns against Twic County, yet both the SSPDF and the Government of South Sudan remain silent in this. Why is this so?
Finally, the government of South Sudan has allowed for the deployment of the United Nations Interim Force for Abyei in Twic Areas, ignoring Twic County’s concerns regarding the involvement of the UNISFA forces in communal fights against the Twic community.
The UNISFA is a foreign force, confined by its mandate to operate inside the Abyei territory. But clearly, the UNISFA has violated international boundaries. The UNISFA, through Abyei Special Administration, crosses into Twic County’s territory and conducts military operations against its citizens. And still, our government remains silent.
So, in the light of the above, the question is: Who is really fighting against Twic County? Is it the Government of South Sudan, The Abyei Special Administration, the UNISFA, or all of them?
The answer is that all of them have slyly declared war on the Twic community for an unclear political reason that is yet to be understood.
Morris Kuol Yoll is a concerned citizen of South Sudan and a member of the Twic Community in the Diaspora who resides in Alberta Canada. He could be reached at 403-830-9278 or myoll2002@yahoo.com
The statements, comments, or opinions published by Nyamilepedia are solely those of their respective authors, which do not necessarily represent the views held by the moderators of Nyamilepedia. The veracity of any claims made are the responsibility of the writer(s), and not the staff and the management of Nyamilepedia.
Nyamilepdeia reserves the right to moderate, publish or delete a post without warning or consultation with the author(s). To publish your article, contact our editorial team at nyamilepedia@gmail.com or info@nyamile.com
