A row pitting Ajuet community on one side and Aweil town municipality on the other has emerged over control of Maper Akot area.
The area is one of the most populated residential areas in Aweil Town and from which most of the local revenues are generated, becoming the source of frictions. While both sides claim ownership of the area, the area falls under Ajuet community which is part of Aweil state and one of the communities at the proximity of the town. Community members take refuge in the concept of land belongs to the community and therefore have the right to use its resources. The authorities, on the other hand, are keen to argue that resources found in an area inhabited by a particular community can be used to provide services to all the citizens of a given a state regardless of where resources are extracted.
Aweil town mayor Simon Tong Deng said that the estimated distance from Aweil Town to other Counties is fifteen Km, explaining that the Contested area lies in hard of Aweil Town when it located half of Kilo.
“The issue of Maper between us and Ajuet County that is Maper is part of Aweil Town it is part of my territory,” Simon said. He condemned statements from Ajuet Mawein Diing County officials when they reclaimed the territory.
Meanwhile, Santino Mayuat Ngong, the Area Member of Parliament interpreted the claim by the town mayor to mean annexation of the land disputed area and said it will be referred to state Ministry of Local Government to decide which part of Aweil Municipality or be annexed to Ajuet County. The legislator, however, stressed that residents have the right to decide and determine where to join or depart from each territory.
Map: Northern Bahr al Ghazal State