The South Sudanese government has been asked to urgently probe the Sunday killing of the Abyei Deputy Chief Administrator.

The senior official and five others including two of his bodyguards were shot and killed in a road ambush in Rummamer County.

On Monday evening, Members of the National Parliament representing Abyei vehemently condemned the killing urging authorities to bring Noon Deng Nyok’s killers to book.

Addressing a press conference in Juba, MP Aisha Abbas Akuei alleged the administrator’s was killed by “Armed Twic militia and militias of Gai Machiek”.

She further claimed that Nyok’s official’s vehicle was ambushed by the said militia groups armed in Rummamer County, a clear indicator that the administrator was targeted.

“We condemn this barbaric attack by tribal militias in the strongest terms possible. These groups are hosted by Twic in Ajakuac. Also, we condemn some hate speech by some leaders from greater Bahr el Ghazal and senior government officials because whenever there is hate speech, an attack happens,” she said.

Adding, “We urge the government of South Sudan to investigate the assassination of the deputy chief administrator Noon Deng Nyok and also take measures to prevent attacks of such nature”.

Tabitha Chol, an MP representing Abyei in the Council of States, alleged of a systematic scheme, targeting of constitutional post holders from Abyei by elements from the neighbouring Twic County.

She said a former minister from Abyei was also killed in a similar ambush in November last year.

“We are saying that the issue of Abyei and Twic is taking a different turn, it is like there are invisible hands behind the issue of land. We call on the South Sudan Government to swiftly form an investigation committee to probe the killing of the deputy administrator and the former minister,” Tabitha said.

She further called on the United Nations Interim Force for Abyei (UNISFA) to protect the people of Abyei within the Abyei Box.

“We call on the UN Security Council to change the force commander and bring someone else who can protect the citizens in Abyei who are helpless,” Tabitha said.

She, however, commended efforts by the governors in the Bahr el Ghazal region and some community leaders in spearheading talks aimed at finding a lasting solution to Abyei and Twic perennial conflicts. 

Background

Deadly violence is common in the Abyei region, where Twic Dinka from Twic County in Warrap State are locked in a dispute with Ngok Dinka from Abyei over the location of an administrative boundary.

The oil-rich Abyei region is also claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan. The two countries have yet to agree on the border mapping since South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011.

The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) was deployed in June 2011 to protect civilians under the imminent threat of physical violence.

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