A leader of the Padang Dinka in Upper Nile state said his community will not relinquish governorship of their areas to anyone from SPLA-In Opposition.
Former Upper Nile state finance minister Ayong Awer said the so-called “Eastern Nile” state which includes Malakal, Melut, Maban, and elsewhere on the east bank must remain in his community’s control.
Ayong Awer said the Padang would not accept any former rebels being put in control of the area.
“It would be an insult for any member of our community to be on the side which killed their members,” he said. “The events which unfolded in Malakal, Baliet, Melut, Akoka, and Renk clearly targeted our people and this has emboldened the desire of our people to be given a state of their own if living in one state with others has become the license for killing them.”
“If people are now given their own state, why not allow them to run their own affairs?” asked Ayong.
The official said appointing any governor from SPLM-IO to the area would lead to conflict. He said it would be wise to appoint Nuer officials only to be governors of areas where the population is predominately Nuer.
“People are saying they want peace. They don’t need war anymore,” he said.
President Salva Kiir and first vice president Riek Machar signed a peace deal last year which says Machar can choose the governor of Upper Nile state. But Kiir later redrew the map to split Upper Nile into three states – Western Nile (Fashoda), Eastern Nile, and Latjor. Kiir also appointed his own governors to each new area, including General Chol Thon who hails from Padang Dinka to Eastern Nile.
Meanwhile, some citizens of Shilluk, a group which hails from the west bank and the multi-ethnic city of Malakal, have threated a new rebellion in the area if the government does not revoke the decision to create more states.
A number of citizens who spoke to Radio Tamazuj said they will rebel even if the governorships are given to SPLM-IO.
“The decision of the formation of 28 states is rejected and if the government did not revoke it there will not be stability in the area,” one citizen said.
The citizens stressed they will rebel even if prominent Shilluk general Johnson Olony does not rebel in the event the government goes ahead with the new states.