Twi Diaspora in Australia, USA and Canada: Press Release on the Communal Violence between Adhiok of Twic East vs Ador of Eastern Lakes
Tuesday, January 7, 2020 (PW) — Twi Community Leadership in the Diaspora are concerned by the National Security meeting with the South Sudan Presidency over the conflict in the Sudd. On January 2nd, 2020 a message was circulated on South Sudan Presidential Press Unit about a recent meeting between South Sudan National Security and the presidency about the recent conflict over a small island inside the Sudd between the two communities of Ador of Ciec and Adhiok of Twi East. These two sisterly communities unfortunately engaged in conflict last month. The conflict has resulted in the loss of lives; two are dead and several youths have sustained injuries. We condemn the conflict in the strongest term possible.
As Twi Diaspora’s leaders:
- We call on the two communities – Adhiok of Twi East and Ador of Ciec –and leadership of their larger communities to ensure this disagreement is deescalated. Timely and amicably, a solution should be found to prevent the situation from being exploited and minimize any disguised political interference.
- We want to remind our two communities publicly about the importance of shared stories and mutual relationships marked by generations of intermarriages, barter trade, and shared territories and resources.
- We want to express our concern that the conflict in the Sudd is drawing the attention of national security and the presidency, rather than the repeated inter-clan violence in the older Lake State and rampant insecurity caused by Murlei in Jonglei and Lou-Nuer areas. The violence mentioned happens daily and has claimed lives of thousands of people. Never have we heard of national security and presidency meeting over these chronic problems or insecurity. We will follow development closely.
- We are concerned the national security, and military personnel met with the governor of Jonglei and Adhiok leadership over the conflict in the Sudd and not about the issue of insecurity created by Murlei cattle rustlers that occurs on Dinka and Nuer land daily.
- We are concerned this situation is getting the attention of those who may use the situation to victimize the Twi community by being in positions of power in government
We want to express our sincere thank you to the people of Ciec Manyiel and the Ador clan for their acknowledgement of the existence of a deep and long-term relationship between these sisterly communities. We will jointly support our sisterly communities to restore, peace, trust and mutual respect. Our two communities shared resources in the Sudd for generations and our history is marked by the spirit of brotherhood and just dealings. We also want to thank all the political leaders who support peace between these two communities.
We pray that no person will succeed in exploiting this situation; that no one goes and utters false accusations to our president or uses government power to unjustly victimize civilians on both sides. May normalcy and peace return to these two communities and South Sudan at large. While we are expressing our concerns, we remain hopeful that our fear is proven wrong and that these meetings are driven by no bad intentions but by honesty and integrity to address the situation.
Respectfully,
Deng Chol Riak
President of Twi Community Association of Australia
Deng DeAtemTiorDit DeDeng
Chairman of Twi Community Association of Canada
Lual Deng Awan
Vice President of Twi Community Association of the USA
Cc:
Hon. Deng Deng Dau, Twi East MP
Hon. Atem Garang Kuek, Twi & Duk MP
Hon. Members of Jonglei Assembly
Hon. Commissioners of Twi Counties