Civil society calls for intervention in Duk, Twic East dispute

A civil society leader has called on the Jonglei State government to urgently intervene in rising tensions between sections of communities in Duk and Twic East Counties amid fears of renewed violence.

The appeal follows unconfirmed reports of fighting in recent days.

Speaking to Eye Radio this afternoon, the Chairperson of the National Civil Society Network, Bol Deng Bol, said there were reports of renewed tensions between the two communities over disputed fishing grounds in the Sudd wetlands.

Bol warned that the situation could escalate into large-scale violence and displacement if no action is taken.

He said reports indicate that members of both communities have armed themselves and are mobilizing to reclaim areas they consider their own.

“They are community hostilities in parts of Twic East, these are fishing areas. And recently, one of the fishing areas called Ariet is one area within Twic East, also fed to another conflicting group, the whole community from Duk County,” he said.

“There are now mobilizations to even take more areas for those whom their places have been taken to prepare and to take their places back. So this is what is happening in the last three days, in fact,” he said.

The activist warned that failure to act quickly could lead to clashes between the communities and further destabilize the area.

He called on the government to deploy security forces and immediately initiate dialogue and mediation efforts to prevent violence.

“So, the government remains a body that should do this, and so these are two things that I am urgently appealing for, for the government to deploy security there, and also initiate mediation immediately. We do not know how this, when this engagement is going to take place, that the communities are going to engage themselves violently in those particular areas,” he appealed.

The dispute between sections of communities in Twic East and Duk counties dates back to 2023 and has resurfaced periodically despite previous government interventions.

Bol urged authorities to pursue a lasting solution to prevent recurring conflicts and promote peaceful coexistence between the affected communities.