ByJohn Youhanes MagokNhial, Addis Ababa,
November 05, 2014(Nyamilepedia) — Please accept my warm congratulations on your victory and my best wishes for your success as you all prepare to take up the responsibilities and challenges of your high office “The Nuer Community in Ethiopia”.
As you embark upon your new responsibilities, I wish to assure you and the people of Nuer of the continued friendship and sympathetic interest of the South Sudanese student’s and people.
I look forward to working with you not only to develop closer relations between our organizations but also to concert our efforts in the cause of peace and the brotherhood of all peoples.
Congratulation!! Mr. John Jikow Doluoth, new chairperson, Mr. Puot Dador the secartery Generals and to Mr. Juoy Riec Panyuan the finance officer and the rest to follow. Congratulation to you all.
We South Sudan University Student’s Union in Ethiopia (SSUSUE), we are all delighted of your election.
Nuer Brief History
The Nuer people are a Nilotic ethnic group primarily inhabiting the Nile Valley. They are concentrated in South Sudan, with some representatives also found in southwestern Ethiopia after they pushed of Anywaak from their land. They speak the Nuer language, which belongs to the Nilo-Saharan family.
The Nuer sub- tribes are believed to have separated – at a certain stage in the past – from the Jagei Nuer area (currently Koch County of Unity State) but in their latter development and migration assimilated many Dinka, Anyuak, Shilluk and Mabaan in their path. ‘Nei ti Naath’ which translates simply into ‘non cannibal people’ is the second largest nationality in South Sudan.
In the beginning of the 19th century the Naath started to migrate and expand eastwards across the Nile river through Wath Ngook in Malut led by Nuer hero Latjor Diengyian from W. Jikany Nuer to Nasir, those crossed through ‘Wath Yooka’ basin in W. Jikany Nuer area led by Bidiit from Lou Nuer to Fangak and groups who crossed Bahr El Jabel River through ‘Wath Pawar Jaak’ basin led by Buoh Kapeel from Gawar clan from Dok Nuer to Ayod in Fangak .
Moreover, westwards expansion groups led by Paramount leopard skin chief Chol Geah from Bul Nuer to Mayom and Mankien displaced Dinka of Apuok, Aguok ,Twic and Arabs westwards.
Furthermore, south wards expansion groups led by Nuer heroes paramount/ leopard skin chief Wun Kuoth and Gatluak Nyak from Nyuong Nuer to Nyal and Ador pushed Dinka Agaar, Aliab and Atuot southward, meanwhile south- west expansion was carried out by leopard skin chief ‘kuar Hook’(cow custodian) Jal Chak Kuok and ‘Kuar mut’( spear master) Pul Kam from Haak Nuer to Mayiandit displaced Dinka Pakam of Agaar, Luac and Rek.
Finally, northwards expansion groups whom attempted to annex Gezira Aba from Arabs to Nuer land led by master of the earth’ kuar muon’ known as Tang Kuany but unfortunately, they were unsuccessful in their mission. All these were done often by conquest luring and assimilation of their neighbors -most of whom were the Dinka, Anyuak, Shilluk and Mabaan tribes.
The territory of Nuer Nation dominate large parts of former Upper Nile Region extending from Western Nuer- Bentiu along the Bahr el Ghazal River known as Naam River and Bahr el Jebel River known as Kiir Pham, River Zerap (Fangak) known as Poow River extending through Lou Nuer (Akobo & Waat) to Eastern Jikany (Nasir, Maiwut & Mading) areas along the River Baro in Ethiopia as well as Sobat River and Pibor River in South Sudan. Nuer expansion pushed into western Ethiopia displacing the Anyuak and Galla (Oromo) ethnic groups more into Ethiopian highlands.
Demographic and Geographic Distribution
District Major Section, Sub Sections, Clans of Western Nuer (Bentiu)
Bul Nuer
W.Jikany Nuer
Jagei Nuer
Leek Nuer
Dok Nuer
Haak Nuer
Nyuong Nuer
District Major Section, sub sections and clans of Central Nuer (Fangak):
Gawaar Nuer (Ayod)
Laak Nuer (Pom Zerap & New Fangak)
Thiang Nuer (Old Fangak or Gezira -sudd region)
District Major Section of Lou Nuer Clans in former Central Upper Nile Region:
Goon section of Lou Nuer in Waat town
Moor section of Lou Nuer in Akobo town
District Major sections of Eastern Jikany Nuer (gaat kiir kakker) clans are below:
Gajiok Nuer in Nasir and ULang Diew Gai
Gajaak Nuer in Maiwut and Longechuk
Gaguong Nuer in Mading Gaguong
The Naath whose number approximately 2 million are to be found as a federation of sections and clans along the Western Nuer (Bentiu), central Nuer (Pangak ,Waat & Akobo) and in Eastern Nuer (Nasir) in former Upper Nile Region. With the River Nile as the principal geographic dividing line within ‘Chieng Naath’ ( Nuer homeland) and ‘ Naath Door’ (wilderness Nuer) form the first level federal division of the ‘rool Naath’ (the Greater Nuer land).
In a nutshell, a leader must know Nure sections, various tradition and geographical distribution of Nuer tribe in the Republic of South Sudan.
Hope Forwards,
As of 15th December, 2013 the tragic day for the Nuer and the people of South Sudan as a whole that our country was thrown into a state of anarchy, in which thousands of people believed to have been killed and many forced to flee their homes internally or out of the neighboring countries as refugees.
With the above mentions we Nure community worldwide in this critical time of our history, we need a competence leaders who said “Yes for Unity of Nuer”, and express the truth to the world. Let us together distance the aim that wants to divide our people among each other and let’s work hand in hand to be a one body and the unity will always continue and the hard work will accelerate.
Congratulation once again!!!
Long Live Nuer Community in Ethiopia!!!
Long Live Nuer People Worldwide!!!
Long Live People of South Sudan!!!
* The author is the existing Secretary General of South Sudan University Student’s Union in Ethiopia (SSUSUE) currently resides in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He can be reached at johnyouhanes@gmail.com or ssusue2013@gmail.com. +251-925-759-198 & +251-927-941-817.
