The government of Abyei Special Administrative Area in collaboration with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) repatriated on Wednesday 738 internally displaced persons from Unity State to their home.
The IDPs fled to the UNISFA base in Rum-Ajak in the aftermath of confrontation between armed Nuer youth and elements of the community protection committee, CPC near the IDPs’ camp in Nyinkuac on Saturday 27th January 2024. More than 50 people were killed and over 60 sustained injuries.
The area government Spokesperson, Hon. Bulis Koc Aguar said they did that because most of the community wanted to see them leave. He said his government made consultations and found that there is a big division. He revealed that only 40 families decided to remain under the auspices of Rumamer commissioner.
Ngok Dinka paramount chief said that traditional leadership is not part of the decision to repatriate Nuer IDPs to their state. Chief Bulabek Deng Kuol said there was not enough debate on the matter. “We should have calmed down our community first then discussed the issue of repatriation,” the paramount Chief elaborated.
Kuol expressed his sorrow to take back families of martyrs whom we counted as our sons because of other people’s mistakes.
On the same note, the secretary general of the civil society organizations supported the return of Mayon IDPs to their home.
“I regretted to see fellow South Sudanese to be sent to their homes. But given the security situation in the area they should go home,” Kuol Monytuc explained.
He said the Nuer community has the right to live in Abyei but when the current situation is settled anybody with a desire to live in Abyei will return. In January about 2209 persons fled to UN bases in Abyei after several skirmishes.
Hundreds of armed Nuer youth are reported to have surrendered arms to authorities in Mayom County. On Sunday, the governor of Unity State, Joseph Monytuil pardoned armed Nuer youth who took sides in the conflict between Ngok in Abyei Area and Twic in Warrap State. The governor asked those who remained in Abyei and Twic to disengage and go home.
