The Truthful Storytelling of Lou Ariik and Its Ongoing Conflict in Tonj, South Sudan

By Ariik Atekdit, Tonj, South Sudan

Wednesday, 23 October 2024 (PW) — For the past eight years, Lou Ariik area has been entangled in a series of internal conflicts, resulting in tragic loss of life. The origins of this unrest can be traced back to the creation of the 28/32 states, which allowed Lou Ariik to stake its claim as a county within the former Tonj State. As new administrative units were established, communities gathered to propose names for their counties. Lou Ariik, which had previously been a sub-county under Tonj North, was referred to as Alabek Payam. Alabek served a triple function: it was the name of the payam, a market center, and the administrative headquarters.

With these changes in administrative capacity, leaders and intellectuals from the Greater Akop community petitioned for the creation of five counties, each representing one of their chiefdoms. When the county was officially formed, it was named Lou Ariik County, with its capital in Alabek. Similarly, Aliek Payam became Konggor County, and in the neighboring Gogrial State, Akon South Payam became Awan Chan County. Throughout Aguok and Apuk, other newly created administrative units also took names that reflected their community identity and geographic significance within the former Gogrial State.

In Lou Ariik and elsewhere, these name changes were not seen as self-serving, but as an effort to capture historical, geographical, and territorial identities, fostering a deep sense of belonging. Yet, despite these well-meaning intentions, things took a different, unfortunate course. The conflict in Lou Ariik began with the heated 2016 campaign for the role of county commissioner. Seven individuals vied for the position, igniting fierce competition over who would best serve the community and the ruling party. The candidates were:

1. Mr. Kur Mawien Landit – Juer Maluil Section
2. Mr. Marko Anguac Deng – Palieupiny Section
3. Mr. Deng Ariik Matiop – Palieupiny Section
4. Mr. Deng Majok Deng – Jur Mananger Section
5. Mr. Akook Anei Mawien – Londit / Kuethchuar Section
6. Mr. Malek Agei Jiel (may his precious soul rest in peace) – Juer Maluil Section
7. Ustaz Madut Adhongror – Palieupiny Section

In the typical political maneuvering, Deng Majok Deng, from the minority Jur Mananger section, was appointed as the first commissioner of Lou Ariik County. His appointment was seen as a gesture to address the marginalization his community had historically faced, signaling that even smaller sections could rise to prominence within Lou and Tonj. However, soon after his appointment, whispers of discontent began to circulate. Many intellectuals claimed Deng Majok was not well-known or popular in Lou Ariik, and tensions grew, especially among local intellectuals. There was a palpable fear that removing a member of a minority group from a public position would bring dishonor to Lou Ariik community, especially since his appointment was meant to address the question of marginalization.

I remember an emergency meeting called to address his appointment, during which Hon. Mawien Dhor, a prominent leader, was held accountable for the decision. He denied any involvement, stating that Deng’s appointment was supported by Tonj intellectuals and the SPLM party due to his minority status. His explanation, however, did little to quell the growing discontent. A negative campaign aimed at preventing Deng Majok from being sworn in quickly gained momentum. Though the attempt ultimately failed, he faced significant resistance, including accusations that his support primarily came from the Akook subsection, a community primarily associated with the Pateek Clan.

Deng’s appointment came at a time when most public officials in Lou Ariik hailed from the Pateek Clan. While the Jur Mananger community has historical and administrative ties with the Pateek Clan, a broader examination revealed that many non-Pateek individuals also held significant public positions. Nevertheless, a job-mapping exercise was conducted to highlight the number of Pateek officeholders, fueling accusations that the clan had monopolized power in Lou Ariik. At the time, senior officials from the Pateek Clan included:

1. Hon. Mawien Dhor Ariik (National MP)
2. Hon. Martin Mou Mou (Undersecretary) – may his precious soul rest in peace
3. Hon. Henry Akoon Monydhar (State MP) – may his precious soul rest in peace
4. Hon. Atek Monydhar Atek (State Minister)
5. Ariik Kuolnuer (State DG – MOGEI)

The concentration of Pateek Clan members in high-ranking positions ignited further resentment. People began to believe that the Pateek Clan was hoarding public offices, even appointing members of the Jur Mananger community to smaller roles to tighten their grip on power. This assumption led to deep frustration among other factions within the community. When Deng Majok was finally sworn in, and no reversal was possible, intellectuals from the Looth community devised a plan to undermine the Pateek politicians. They argued that a single clan should not control all public positions and have a county named after their forefather. The dispute over the name “Lou Ariik” became a focal point, fueling divisions that eventually spread to the village level, culminating in violent clashes between the Akook section and others.

What followed was an outpouring of anger, hatred, and envy. These feelings deepened the divisions, with some refusing to accept the truth in a desperate bid to preserve their egos. A regrettable chapter unfolded in the history of Lou Ariik, where people who stood by the truth were labeled conservatives, and chaos ensued. The truth is, there was never any genuine conflict over the name “Lou Ariik.” The Pateek Clan did not deliberately choose the name—it was simply a result of the administrative process. Yet, it was used against them, turning a name into a symbol of division.

But could the real causes of this conflict go beyond names and appointments? Are there deeper grievances—rooted in historical injustices, competition for resources, and political power struggles—that continue to tear the Lou Ariik community apart? Addressing these underlying issues will be essential for true reconciliation and lasting peace.

What Sparked the Conflict in Lou Ariik, Alabek, and Lou County in Tonj?

In 2016, the debates over the name of Lou Ariik County escalated into a wider power struggle, with the removal of Commissioner Deng Majok at its core. The first major confrontation took place in January 2017, following the forceful removal of the county’s flag—a symbolic act that nearly sparked armed conflict. The hostility was palpable, with the Pateek community singled out for blame over a name that was historically significant and widely accepted.

In an attempt to clear the confusion, a second conference was held in March 2017. This conference was led by Hon. Atem Gualdit, a senior member of the Council of State. Supporters of Alabek were given the opportunity to present historical evidence, arguing that one family should not be held responsible for a name they didn’t create. However, the conference lacked transparency and impartiality, as threats against national committee members stifled any honest discussion. As a result, the truth remained buried.

When Gen. Anthony Boldit (may his soul rest in peace) became the governor of the defunct Tonj State, he attempted to mediate the rift between the divided Pateek intellectuals in Juba. He proposed replacing the contentious names of Alabek and Lou Ariik with the neutral name Londit County. The idea gained traction, and Boldit planned a visit to the village during the dry season to drum up support for this compromise. Unfortunately, before he could attend, Boldit was relieved of his position, and Gen. Mathiang Magoordit took over as governor.

Mathiang, together with some Looth intellectuals, proposed the name “Lou County” as a neutral solution to unite the community. Members of the Pateek community agreed to drop their ancestral suffixes—whether Ariik or Mawien. Alabek was to remain the headquarters of Lou County. However, before the name change could be finalized, the situation took a violent turn.

On November 11, 2019, Deputy Governor Santino Diing Wek was sent to the area to convene a peace conference. But within hours of the delegation’s arrival, armed youths removed the county flag for the 2nd time from the commissioner’s vehicle, mistakenly assuming it was Lou County’s flag, when in fact, it read “Alabek.” This misunderstanding triggered a fierce clash with Malook, Muoc, Bil, and Longkap sections on one side and Akook village on the other, resulting in the tragic deaths of 12 people—six from each side—and many more wounded. The government delegation retreated to Tonj, and the conference was abandoned.

The conflict, which had begun as a debate over names, escalated into something far more severe. The community grew increasingly fractured, with individuals and groups scapegoated for the ongoing tension. Those believed to have incited the violence were arrested and taken to Tonj Town, while efforts to resolve the conflict continued.

In February 2020, a third peace conference was organized under the supervision of Molana Ateny Wek Ateny, the Presidential Press Secretary. The aim was to facilitate dialogue and find a resolution. By this time, the Juer section of Lou Ariik had already separated, establishing their own county in Majak town. The contested names—Lou Ariik, Alabek, and Lou County—remained points of contention. Some argued that if the conflict stemmed from the name “Ariik,” there should be no objection to simply calling it Lou County.

However, just one week after the conference, President Kiir dissolved the 32 states, reverting to 10, and Lou Ariik County was returned to its former payam status as Alabek County. Many believed this development would diminish the urgency of the conflict, but by then, lives had been lost, and the wounds were deep. The conflict was far from over, and the need for dialogue was greater than ever. Yet, no meaningful steps were taken, and the politics of hatred and envy only grew stronger.

In January 2021, the passing of Sultan Dhor Ariik Mawien (may his soul rest in peace), a revered national leader and long-serving paramount chief, briefly brought the divided Lou Ariik community together for his funeral. In Juba, intellectuals from the fractured community gathered for the solemn event, stressing the need for peace in Lou. The responsibility was placed squarely on the Pateek community, which was urged to take the lead in fostering unity and laying the groundwork for peace.

Plans were made for section-by-section consultations within the Lou community, with the hope of reaching a consensus that would pave the way for a final peace initiative. But these efforts were soon undermined by sabotage, as multiple sections withdrew their support from the peace committee, leaving only a few committed factions.

In June 2022, a fourth peace conference was held in Warrap Town under the oversight of Warrap State Governor Aleu Ayieny Aleu. Although Aleu was unable to attend due to health issues, his ministers represented him. The community agreed to rename the area Lou Payam, yet criticism persisted. Many wondered what the dispute was really about at this point.

When Governor Aleu returned, he tried to address the community’s demands by establishing multiple administrative centers. Majak County was redefined as Majak Payam, and Lou North Payam was created with its headquarters in Thonyiik. Lou Centre Payam was created with its headquarters at Longkap. Despite these efforts, supporters of Alabek remained adamant that the name be retained for the administrative unit. Governor Aleu was eventually replaced by Hon. Manhiem Bol Malek, but the conflict endured, defying the efforts of multiple governors and Tonj intellectuals.

In July 2023, the unexpected passing of Sultan Ariik Mawien Ariik, the elder brother of Gen. Mawien Magol, brought together mourners from across the Lou community, Tonj, and South Sudan. The funeral reignited calls for peace among the residents of Lou Ariik, with growing criticism of the Tonj leadership’s failure to promote reconciliation. By August 2023, meetings had resumed in Juba, with Lewis Anei Kuendit as chair and Andrew Kuaac Mayol as co-chair. Their goal was to resolve the ongoing dispute over the area’s name. After completing consultations in Juba, the committee planned to travel to the village to hold final peace talks. However, before this could happen, Governor Manhiem was replaced by Kuol Muor, once again disrupting the process.

With each change in leadership, the community has been forced to start over, prolonging the conflict and providing fertile ground for political sabotage by those with vested interests in maintaining the status quo. The constant reshuffling of governors has made it nearly impossible to achieve lasting results.

The conflict reignited on December 31, 2023, over a dispute involving a girl, once again pitting the same four sections against Akook village. Revenge killings continue to fuel the violence, keeping the region locked in a cycle of bloodshed and division. Is this conflict really about names? Or do deeper grievances—rooted in historical injustices, competition for resources, political power, and social divisions—fuel the ongoing strife? Addressing these deeper issues is crucial for achieving lasting peace and reconciliation in Lou Ariik.

What is Renewing the Conflict in Lou Ariik, Alabek, and Lou County?

The conflict in Lou Ariik area restarted on December 31, 2023, following a dispute surrounding a young girl who became pregnant, leading to an unsuccessful marriage arrangement. The boy and the girl were related maternally, making their union impossible under Jieng cultural norms, which strictly forbid marriages between blood relatives. Although fines were paid, and an heifer was given in accordance with customary law, the girl’s family remained unsatisfied and unconvinced.

During a two-year memorial ceremony for the late Sultan Dhor Ariik (may his soul rest in peace), an attempt at retaliation against the boy involved in the girl’s pregnancy ignited a new wave of violence. The young man from Akook village was struck on the head with a heavy stick, causing him to fall unconscious amid the celebrating crowd. This quickly escalated into a gunfight, resulting in the tragic deaths of six individuals, three from each side—and leaving many others injured.

Efforts to broker peace in response to the December 2023 conflict failed, partly due to the impending elections planned for the village, particularly under the chieftaincy of Sultan Mawien Benyater. Sultan Benyater faced accusations of aggravating the situation and failing to promote reconciliation among his people. Members of the fighting communities considered conducting elections to either confirm or remove him from his position as chief.

Those opposing the elections capitalized on the growing tensions, creating additional obstacles to peace and further polarizing the situation. Even traditional efforts to reconcile the communities, as prescribed by Jieng culture, became complicated and difficult to implement. Genuine arrests of the December’s culprits were never made.

In April 2023, Governor Kuol Muor considered conducting an election after elders, including Rtd Gen. George Konggor and Andrew Kuaac, visited Lou Ariik area to assess whether there were genuine calls for a change in community and traditional leadership. Approximately one month after their visit, a team was dispatched to Lou to oversee the election, despite the prevailing tensions and life-threatening conflicts surrounding the chief’s family and the Pateek clan.

The delegation planned to hold a general meeting the following day to explain the purpose of their visit. However, that fateful night, they were met with a barrage of gunfire, leaving them stressed and unable to sleep. Ultimately, they returned to Kuacjok feeling sorrowful and ashamed. This incident was a deeply dishonorable event for the traditional village of Lou Ariik, as it was shocking that visitors were attacked before they even had the chance to present their points.

The delegation left & never returned, and the planned election was abandoned. Local authorities, who were not citizens of Lou, evacuated due to the precarious situation, leaving peace talks, blood compensation, and reconciliation efforts unfinished. This failure deepened the bitterness among families who had lost loved ones, fostering an atmosphere of suspicion and fear of renewed violence. As a result, the entire Lou Ariik area was engulfed in lawlessness, observed by all.

In June 2024, a violent confrontation at Alabek Market followed another act of revenge. The latest round of conflict broke out on September 26, 2024, when a cold-blooded revenge killing ignited widespread communal clashes. By September 27, the violence had escalated, with confrontations continuing for a month without any intervention.

It is crucial to understand that while the conflicts from December 31, 2023, to the present day involve the same groups against Akook village, they are not directly related to Lou Ariik versus Alabek name dispute. However, the core issue persists: no genuine reconciliation or healing has taken place since the initial name dispute, and subsequent conflicts have compounded the division. The situation has been a relentless “us versus them” battle, with no room for compromise or unity—like two bulls locking horns, each determined to assert its strength.

It is important to clarify that the initial violent conflict related to the name disputes occurred on November 11 and 12, 2019 and was subsequently resolved. Blood compensation was paid for all, including those who were wounded. Despite several conferences and the government’s involvement, subsequent conflicts arose from a variety of contributing factors. But in whatever case, tensions become particularly sensitive when a quarrel involves a member of Akook village and any other community member. In such cases, the broader community often unites against Akook, framing the conflict as part of the name dispute, even when there is no direct connection to it.

Since 2019, this conflict has claimed the lives of 61 people—19 from one side and 42 from the other. The loss is profound, with countless others wounded and left with permanent disabilities, robbing them of the happiness they once knew. Could there be deeper, underlying causes of this prolonged conflict beyond the name dispute and revenge killings? Factors such as historical grievances, competition for resources, political power struggles, and social divisions may play a significant role. Understanding these root causes is critical to achieving lasting peace and reconciliation.

Who is Fighting Who in Lou Ariik, Alabek, and Lou County Sectional Conflict?

In my previous discussions, I have explained multiple times what went wrong, how the situation evolved, and how it has led to the current overarching conflict that everyone is witnessing. Many of us have been made scapegoats in an effort to silence dissent and divert attention from the real issues at hand.

From the outset in 2016, people framed the situation as a conflict between those advocating for the name of their forefather (Pateek) and those opposing it (the majority Lou). The Lou community wanted the county to be named Alabek County, while the Pateek clan advocated for Lou Ariik County—a name that is suspected to represent a legacy tied to their ancestors. This demand was assumed to provoke strong reactions from others within the community.

It is important to note that the name Lou Ariik is in the public domain across the region, and there is little justification for blaming any one person for its use in 2016, as if they were the first to do so. But when this became a case, elders of Pateek clan convened at Pankor village, their sacred and spiritual center, to discuss the name in February 2017. They ultimately decided to adopt Lou County, choosing to drop the name of their forefather altogether. However, this decision did not bring about the peace they had hoped for.

Over time, as this narrative lost traction, the conflict was recast as stemming from internal divisions within Pateek clan, particularly among the family of Mawien Ariik (Ajokdit), pitting Paan Kuei against Paan Arek in the scenario of saying things but quite different on the ground. Each time a new definition of the conflict emerged, it seemed to lose clarity, with new factors introduced to keep the conflict alive. Intellectuals have played a significant role in exacerbating the situation.

Soon after, people began to assert that the “Ariik” suffix attached to Lou did not refer to the legendary Ariik known to all, but rather to a specific individual, Ariik Kuei (Ariik Mawien Ariik), who had inherited the modern chieftainship from his stepbrother Mawien Mawien Ariik (Mawien Achokbek). Despite any justifications provided, no one was convince to abandon their grievances, and instead, conflict continued to be engineered.

This situation revealed that other clans within the Lou community sought to bracket off from Pateek leadership and assert their independence. They were eager to see the once-powerful Pateek clan, which had been unassailable, become divided. Seizing this opportunity, these clans aimed to diminish what they perceived as Pateek social hegemony. In the process, they managed to sway a significant portion of Pateek members, including Paan Arek family, against Paan Kuei and a few others.

Even though it is impossible to claim that Malok, Muoc, Bil, and Longkap sections can ever fully become Paan Arek, or that the people in Akook village can be entirely Paan Kuei given the presence of various clans and families on both sides, many still seek to define the conflict in these terms to make it appear more attractive and to disguise the complexities involved.

In most of the conferences held, participants did not engage in constructive debates aimed at fostering meaningful dialogue for peaceful coexistence. Instead, their focus was on proving that things had changed and that if a decision had been made, there was no need for further discussion—the majority had spoken. The reliance on violence to assert their positions has significantly harmed the community, contributing to the current state of conflict.

At the end of the day, the entire Lou community, including Paan Arek, finds itself engaged in a conflict against Akook village, which is predominantly inhabited by Paan Kuei and other factions from Pateek clan of Pan Ariik Ngarbek.

Paan Arek and Paan Kuei both descended from Mawien Ariik (Ajokdit), with Arek being the first wife and Kuei the fifth out of his ten wives. If the conflict is framed in this context, it essentially becomes a war among the descendants of Mawien Ajokdit’s co-wives. This raises questions about why the broader Lou community members are so actively involved in the conflict of co-wives? What compels the greater Lou community to take ownership of a dispute primarily rooted in the dynamics between co-wives?

If the descendants of the co-wives are indeed engaged in a family power struggle, it would make sense for the Lou community to intervene and encourage them to resolve their differences peacefully. Instead, however, the opposite has occurred. This suggests that deeper issues are at play, which we will explore further in the next part.

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