Clashes displace over 3,000 families in Twic County
Warrap State has revealed that around 3,411 families have been displaced in Twic County following the recent inter-communal clashes between two neighbouring communities.
The Minister of Information of Warrap State, Ring Deng, said approximately 20,466 individuals have been displaced, bringing the number of households to 3,411 assuming a family comprises six individuals.
He said the report was verified by the rape assessment team, which is made up of government officers and its partners.
Deng added that the displaced persons have taken refuge in Akoc Pannyok, Ajak Turalei, Aweng, Majo Ngor, Anyen Kuac, Ajak Kuac areas.
Last week, Gen. Malong Awan, the chairman of South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A), warned of further clashes between the Ngok and Twic communities.
Malong urged the government to directly intervene by finding a lasting solution to the conflict, stressing that it could derail peace and stability in the two areas.
Word of caution
“The South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) has learned with great dismay of the clashes between Twic Mayardit and Ngok Dinka communities.
“From our analysis, this conflict has the potential to threaten peace and stability among the two neighbours who have for a long time lived and coexisted peacefully,” “he said in a statement released by his group.
SSUF/A is a member of the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA); a group that has been engaging in the Roma peace talks with the government.
On February 13, the governor of Warrap, Lt Gen Aleu Ayieny Aleu, issued a stern warning to people he called “enemies of peace” whom he accused of masterminding violent clashes between two communities drawn from Abyei Administrative Area and Twic County of Warrap State.
In a statement that was obtained by The City Review last week, Aleu accused some “external forces” of using the conflict situation to their advantage. The two communities were reportedly fighting over control of Agok town.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my condemnation to this conflict and the enemies of peace on both sides and warn external forces who would exploit this situation to further their sinister agenda of the destruction of an independent Republic of South Sudan,” he said
Aleu urged the two conflicting communities to desist from violence and allow their authorities and the national government to address the matter for a lasting solution to the conflict.
“By this statement, I appeal greatly to both communities (Twic and Ngok) as well as their community leaders and politicians to cooperate and halt this senseless and empty violence. Please restrain yourselves and allow the authorities of both areas and the national government to handle the situation and seek an amicable solution to this problem. “
The two communities were involved in deadly clashes from February 10 to February 11, 2022.
