The Acholi community of Magwi County in Eastern Equatoria State has faulted the former governor of the now defunct Torit State, Tobiolo Oromo ALberio, Eastern Equatoria State Local Government Minister Peter Lokeng Lotone, and other politicians who hail from Ikotos County for trying to annex a village in Magwi County to Ikotos County.
Earlier in the week, representatives of the Acholi community handed a petition to Governor Louis Lobong Lojore whom they urged to intervene in the matter.
According to the petition, the now contested area of Iswore was counted to be in Magwi County during the last census and elections but in 2018, former Governor Oromo decreed that it be under Ikotos County, creating tensions.
In February 2020, President Salva Kiir reduced the number of states from 32 to 10 and three administrative areas and ordered that all the bomas, payams, and counties created during the 32 states return to their original places as it was before the creation of 32 states.
In April 2023, Ikotos County Commissioner Joseph Lokolong visited Iswore to consult the community on what services they needed.
In April 2023, Alphonse Muras Chacha and Dominic Onyu, state lawmakers representing Ikotos County in the state parliament, held a political campaign in Iswore that angered the Acholi community.
On 2 June 2023, a UNDP team visited Lobone Payam in Magwi County to assess the humanitarian situation of displaced people and asses a Jigger infestation in Iswore however some youth expelled the humanitarian workers under the alleged political influence of politicians from Ikotos.
Matters came to a head when the tensions led to physical violence in 2018 over the administration of Iswore Boma.
According to the Acholi community, Iswore is one of seven bomas under Lobone Payam in Magwi County. The others are Lomarati, Kicenga, Palwar, Omere, Agata and Lobone Boma.
Oryema Emmanuel, while reading the petition on behalf of the Acholi community, told Governor Lobong that despite efforts to work for peace, some elements in the latter’s government are fueling conflict.
“We appeal to your esteemed office to summon the leaders from Ikotos and hold them accountable for the dubious actions in Iswore in Lobone Payam. They are Tobiolo Alberio Oromo, the former governor and a current parliamentarian in the national assembly, Dominic Onyu Paul, a state lawmaker, Jospeh Lokolong, the Ikotos County commissioner, Alphonse Muras Chacha, a state lawmaker, and Peter Lokeng Lotone, the current local government minister,” he read. “The Acholi community also appealed to your good leadership to ensure that all the people displaced from Iswore be returned and resume their farming activities. We call upon your esteemed administration to organize a dialogue between the communities who peacefully coexisted for quite a long time and are being torn apart by incompetent politicians.”
“We request your leadership to visit those displaced and fragmented communities and hear their voices,” Oryema added.
He said the affected Iswore community needs basic services, particularly a health facility and schools.
“We request that you direct development partners to take services to the area,” Oryema said. “The Acholi community strongly condemns the barbaric actions of those Ikotos politicians.”
Meanwhile, Odong Joseph Kamilo, the chairperson of the Acholi community in Torit, says his community is doing everything to resolve the matter peacefully despite provocations from some government officials.
“The governor said the step we took is good and as the Acholi community, we do not want any kind of grievances or fighting among our people. He (Lobong) also talked of being calm and said he will organize a committee to go to the area to consult and find out the truth about Iswore,” he revealed. “All of us agreed to allow the committee to visit the place to witness what is happening there.”
For his part, Okumu Robert, a state parliamentarian representing Lobone Payam, said the annexation of his area has created tensions.
“As members of the area, we do not need tensions and that is why we have come with members of the Acholi community. All of the seven clans of Acholi came to explain their grievances and I am extremely happy by the response of the governor,” he said. “The governor said he knew about the issue of Iswore and is going to take action and the first step is to know the line and establish where it (Iswore) belongs.”
However, Ikotos County Commissioner Joseph Loholong insists that Iswore belongs to his county. Citing the 2004 convention on the mapping of bomas, payams, and counties by the late Dr. John Garang, he urged the government to get the right information from the Iswore community instead of being swayed by politicians.
“Iswore was under Ikotos during the convention of 2004 held by Dr. John Garang to map bomas, payams, and the counties. The first commissioner was Celesio Ohisa. The first chief of Iswore was called Oreste and when he died, Anyido was elected chief under Hatire Payam and up to now Anyido is receiving his salary from Ikotos County,” he explained. “This is what I know and the people of Iswore should say where they belong. Let the people of Iswore speak and not us the politicians.”
Information Minister Patrick Oting Cyprian said the issue should be resolved amicably.
“As a government, we are not happy because you cannot use force to annex a community and it has to be a choice. We knew that was a very wrong move from the beginning but our governor has made a very wise decision. He has given them directives and we will find a way of settling this issue,” Oting said. “We are very happy with the people of Magwi because they did not use power or quarrel but sought to find a legal way of settling the matter. We urge other communities to emulate this and not to take the law into their hands.”
Governor Lobong directed that an assessment be carried out to identify the people and what language is spoken in Iswore. He also said the map of Magwi County will be consulted to resolve the impasse.