The Anyuak Community of Akobo County in Jonglei State is rejecting an ongoing survey of the county headquarters, Akobo town, saying it was not consulted and that the exercise could fuel inter-communal tensions there.
The rejection was made by the community in a November 13 letter addressed to President Salva Kiir, appealing for an urgent intervention to prevent any future Lou Nuer-Anyuak conflict.
On November 4, the state land and housing ministry permitted the Akobo authorities to go ahead with a plan to survey and allot lands in the county.
“Reference is made to the Akobo County commissioner’s letter dated November 1, 2022, enlightening the state government on the land survey to take place in Akobo County, the state ministry of land, housing and public utilities is here to honor the decision and approve it without conditions provided that the technicality of implementing the plan falls under the ministry,” the letter signed by Minister Isaac Mamer Ruk reads in parts.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj over the weekend, Mr. Friday Awow Okuch, an Akobo Anyuak community representative and one of the petitioners said while they respect every citizen’s right to own land everywhere in the country, they believe the exercise is not timely and could create conflicts.
“Survey itself is a good thing for developmental purposes but the process itself is what we are rejecting. Discussions and the process which led up to the approval of the Akobo town survey were done without the representation of Anyuak as a community,” Friday said. “Again, we are not acknowledged as custodians of Akobo town meaning none of the community chiefs responsible for the lands were consulted plus we also know Akobo is a town of over 100 years with airport, hospital, and roads. This means the town is already planned so they are supposed to retrieve those documents that tell which area belongs to who.”
The community leader called on the state authorities to focus on implementing the 2018 peace deal to allow the return of refugees before they could embark on such projects.
“As we speak, there are no Anyuaks in Akobo town and surrounding villages because they were displaced in the 1980s and later in 2014 by the war. There is no total security and Akobo is heavily militarized and this is the reason for our absence there. For example, about 26 of our people who refused to leave were killed by the rebels in 2014,” he said.
Friday Awow earnestly pleaded with President Kiir to urgently intervene before the situation escalates.
“We tried to reach out to the commissioner but he does not want to hear from us which is why we wrote to the president to intervene. As a citizen, my identity is connected to my birthplace. How could I be a South Sudanese if I am denied land rights? So, I want the presidency to intervene to stop this because if it continues it will create conflict,” he stressed.
Jay Adingora Alual, the spokesperson of the Anywaa (Anyuak) Community Association, in South Sudan said they are not happy with the ongoing survey.
“As a community, we will not be contented with whatever is taking place in Akobo town if the Anyuak people are not involved. There is a need to involve the Anyuak in the decision-making process and any activity that will be taking place,” he said.
For his part, John Chuol Tut, Akobo County Commissioner, said they came up with the plan because the community wants the town surveyed and that the exercise will continue despite resistance.
“We started the process because the community sat down and agreed that this year they want the town surveyed. I went to the governor’s office and concerned ministries and everything is approved,” he said. “The survey will continue up to March so we expect Anyuak and everyone else to come. We will not stop the survey because there will be no problem between Anyuak and Nuer. We informed everyone and whoever does not want to come it is their own decision,” he said.