Attachments
Northern Bahr el Ghazal is one of the ten (10) states in South Sudan. It has an area of 30,543 km² and is part of the Bahr el Ghazal region. It borders East Darfur in Sudan to the north, Western Bahr el Ghazal to the west and south, and Warrap and the disputed region of Abyei to the east. Aweil is the capital city of Northern Bahr El Ghazal state.
Because of its proximity to Kordofan and the presence of a railway line through it Aweil to Wau, it suffered extensively in the 1983–2005 civil war in southern Sudan.
North Bahr al Ghazal and adjacent parts of Western Kordofan to the north were among the most politically sensitive regions in Sudan. Missriya Arabs from Kordofan have interacted with Dinka in this region over a long time. While relations during the colonial era were largely peaceful, the war saw an upsurge in hostilities. Government backing to the Missriya gave them a decided advantage over local Dinka groups, and raiding by murahileen militias (and other government backed groups, including some Dinka militias) resulted in considerable loss of life, widespread abduction and pillaging of Dinka villages. Many of these raids coincided with the movement of government trains to and from Kordofan to Wau.
Last week, authorities there said repeated attacks by suspected Misseriya tribesmen killed at least 24 people displacing thousands others into neighboring communities.
The frequent violence prompted the state government to close the western border with Sudan indefinitely until the dispute is resolved. Conflict there has existed for years amongst the two ethnic groups of Dinka Malual, Rezigat and the Misseriya nomads. The Bordering Community of Bahr el Ghazal region has clashed with the Misseriya tribesmen for years. Fighting there has been associated to wrangle over grazing land, water and pasture for animals. Several peace conferences between the Dinka Malual and Misseriya have been held in the past, with the two sides resolving to maintain peace, monitor crime, and payment of “blood compensation” in case of murder; however conflicts have continued despite the peace efforts.
This has resulted to increasingly high level of vulnerability, especially people loosed theirs lives, food items, houses and livestock were burnt down and some of the livestock were taken by the attackers.
The attacked communities claims 24 people lose their lives and wounded many others; meanwhile nearly 2620 households (HHs) were displace to the nearest villages of Warnyiel, Majok yinthiou, War-agany, Riang-awei, Angoot, and many others ran to difference locations as far as Warawar, Malualkon Wanyjok Madhol, Malualbaai and other places seeking for safety as their homes including food items in the granaries , example grain, groundnuts were burned down to ashes.