Warrap and Western Bahr al Ghazal state authorities have taken measures to try to calm tensions between communities after clashes in Mamoi area, Wau County.
The tensions involve farming communities of Wau County and pastoralist communities of neighboring areas including Warrap State.
According to the deputy governor, Zachariah Joseph Garang, who spoke to Radio Tamazuj last week, at least one person died after clashes in Mamoi area near Wau and another woman from the farmers’ side was raped, while farmers for their part killed two cows in revenge.
This has prompted high-level interventions from both state governments.
Derik Alfred, Minister of Information of Western Bahr al Ghazal State, explained in an interview Friday that nomads from Warrap State came with their cows to Wau County several months ago.
“Recently there were clashes between the nomads and farmers. And that could trouble relations between Western Bahr al Ghazal and Warrap State,” he said.
The violence broke out on or about 1 April last week. “But the commissioner of Tonj came himself and discussed with the responsible officials in Western Bahr al Ghazal and the deputy governor of Warrap came himself and discussed,” noted Alfred.
Radio Tamazuj learnt that security forces last week arrested someone from Wau County called Amabli Aushi, reportedly after he made critical remarks at the meeting attended by the commissioners of Wau County and Tonj North.
Aushi is said to have criticized the government for not protecting the citizens, saying that if they are unable to do so then they will have to protect themselves from the pastoralists by any means.
However, the minister of information Derik Alfred said that he has no information about the arrest of Amabil Aushi, and even had not heard about it before. But he cautioned against the risks of racial or ethnic incitement.
He further declined to comment on the judicial aspect of the Mamoi incident, saying it had no political aspects and could be solved by a court judge or traditional judge.
But the minister affirmed that the security services are searching for the herders who allegedly perpetrated crimes in Mamoi area.
He further commented on earlier media reports of insurgency in the state, which had said some individuals were joining the armed opposition led by Riek Machar.
“There’s no rebellion in Western Bahr al Ghazal, it is one of the areas where security is very good,” he said, emphasizing everything was under control in the state.
Wau County violence
Serious violence broke out in Western Bahr al Ghazal State in December 2012, after a group of protesters were gunned down in Wau town.
The violence quickly escalated and spread to some rural areas, and a massacre was perpetrated in Farajallah area. Eleven men were later sentenced to hang for their alleged involvement in the Farajallah killings. Rioting residents also blocked roads to the state capital and set fire to lorries on the outskirts of Wau.
These events were preceded by a bitter fight within the state legislative assembly pitting the governor’s loyalists against a group of Wau County MPs.
Tensions have risen anew within the state assembly since February, when the assembly impeached the state finance minister, a move opposed by the governor.
Related coverage:
Legislature in Wau not backing down in dispute with governor (14 May)
Photo: New army recruits listen to speeches by officers and politicians at Basilia Payam, Western Bahr al Ghazal, 14 March 2014 (Gurtong)