Letter of Condemnation regarding the Series of violations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement Signed between the Twic and Ngok Dinka on April 4th, 2022, in Aweil- Northern Bahr El Ghazal State

TO H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan,

By Twic Mayardit Community in Diaspora (Australia, Canada, Europe, and the USA)

Your Excellency:

May 15, 2022 — Twic Mayardit Community in Diaspora is saddened by the attack on Twic County’s villages on May 8th and May 9th, 2022, by joined forces of the Abyei Mission, the United Nations Interim Security Forces for Abyei (UNISFA), and South Sudan People Defense (SSPDF) commanded by Brig. Gen. Makal Kuol Deng.  

The attack has claimed the lives of innocent civilians and destroyed properties as villages were burned to ashes.  We strongly condemn this attack upon Twic County’s villages on May 8th and 9th, as well as the series of violations that preceded it.   

Since the signing of the Twic and Ngok Dinka Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in Aweil, the Twic Mayardit Community in Diaspora has closely monitored the agreement, advising the Twic Community at home to honor its terms and conditions, as well seek for a final, and peaceful solution to the conflict. 

Unfortunately, the Abyei Special Administration, Abyei Mission, Abyei Youth Armed Forces (Gelweng), and the UNISFA violated the agreement from its inception.   

On the 3rd of April 2022, one day before signing the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement with Ngok Dinka, Tong Deng Anyuon-Aweng Payam, and Kiir Goch Deng Kiir from Akoc Payam were murdered inside Abyei town. Soon after, on the 5th of April, Mawien Majok Riak from Turalei Payam was killed in Abyei. Then, on Friday, April 8th, 2022, another member of Twic Mayardit called Atem Liai disappeared in Abyei. There was also an alleged case of sexual assault from Aneet Market reported, and two people were denied the right to obtain their personal belongings in Abathok.  

Soon after, on the 13th of April, Ador Chol Ador from Pannyok Payam was killed in Aneet Market, and five days before the May 8th and 9th attacks, Abyei Youths Armed Forces (Gelweng) killed three people in Mading-Jokthiang. Also at that time, Abyei Mission Brigade, the UNISFA, Abyei Youth Armed Forces, and Brig. Gen. Makal Kuol Deng of the SSPDF attacked Athoony, Nyalou, and Malual Aleu of Twic county of Warrap state. The attack resulted in the loss of lives, as well as villages being burnt to ashes.  These reported incidents go against the terms of the signed cease-fire agreement 

Your Excellency, the Twic Community in the Diaspora is alarmed by this series of attacks that have clearly violated the agreement.  The UNISFA, Abyei Mission, and Abyei Youths Armed Forces have not simply violated the Twic-Ngok Dinka Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, signed on April 4th, 2022, in Aweil, but also have violated the international border specifications of January 1st, 1956, between South Sudan and Sudan.  

Furthermore, the UNISFA, Abyei Mission, and Abyei Youths Armed Forces also violated the UNISFA’s mandate in its provision (2) which states that the UNISFA mandate is to “monitor and verify the redeployment of armed forces from Abyei Area in accordance with the June 20, 2011, Agreement” as it was established by the United Nations Security Council Resolution No: 1990 of June 20th, 2011.  That is to say that the UNISFA’s mandate should be confined within the boundary of Abyei territory and not to cross the boundary of the Republic of South Sudan of 1956.  The encroachment of the Abyei Box’s Map inside the territory of the Republic of South Sudan is what has given the UNISFA, Abyei Mission, and Abyei Youth Armed Forces (Militia) license to attack and slaughter the Twic Mayardit Community. 

Your Excellency, the Twic Community would like to see this conflict addressed immediately to avoid an unnecessary war, loss of lives, properties, displacement, and human suffering.  

Hence, we request your prestigious intuitions in asking Abyei politicians, Abyei Special Administrative, and the UNISFA to leave the Twic areas and move back to the north of Kiir River.  Secondly, we ask that Brig.  Gen. Makal Kuol Deng be replaced and held accountable for attacking Twic County. Thirdly, we ask the South Sudan government to address territorial violations by foreign forces of Abyei and the UNISFA.  The Abyei Mission and the UNISFA forces are violating the international boundary by crossing the Kiir River as a physical boundary to attack Twic county.  According to Sudan’s boundaries agreement of January 1st, 1956, the physical boundary between Twic and Dinka Ngok is the Kiir River.  It is the responsibility of the National government to protect its boundaries.  Therefore, we ask the government of South Sudan to address the territorial dispute between Twic and Ngok communities.  

Sincerely yours, 

Signed by the following members on the behalf of Twic Mayardit Community in Diaspora:  

CC:  

1. H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon, The First Vice president of the Republic of South Sudan  
2. H.E. Dr. Wani Iga, Second Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan  
3. H.E. Hussain Abdulbagai Ayei Akol Vic President and Investigation Committee Chairman  
4. H.E. Taban Deng Gai, Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan  
5. H.E. Madam Nyadeng Garang deMabior, Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan  
6. H.E. Gen. Aleu Ayieny, Governor of Warrap State  
7. Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, Speaker of the National Legislative Assembly (RSS)  
8. Hon. Charles Majak Aleer, Member of Parliament  
9. Hon. Nyadeng Malek, Member of Parliament  
10. Gen. Akol Koor Kuch National Security Service ( RSS)  
11. Hon. Tut Kew, Presential Security Advisor (RSS)  
12. Hon. Peter Lam Both, Acting Secretary-General of the SPLM  
13. Hon.Bona Malual Madut Ring, Twic-Mayardit Community Elder  
    
14. Hon. Melanie Joly, Canada Minister of Foreign Affairs
15. Hon. Anthony Blinken, Secretary of the State of the United States of America
16. Hon. Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia
17. Hon. Asma Mohamed Abdalla, Minister of Foreign Affair of Sudan
18. Hon. Demeke Mekonnen, Ethiopia Minister of Foreign Affairs
19. Hon.Christian Bader, European Union (EU) Ambassador to South Sudan
20. Hon. Antonio Guterrs, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN)
21. Hon. Nicholas Hyson, United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
22. Maj. Gen.Benjamin Olufemi Sawyer, Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander, United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA)
23. Hon. Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the Human Rights Commission in South Sudan
24. Hon. Ambassador, Dr. Ismail Wais, The intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Eastern Africa Special Envoy for South Sudan
25. Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO)
26. South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA)
27. United South Sudan African Party (USSAP) 28. United South Sudan Party (USSP)
28. United Democratic Salvation Front (UDSF)
29. Sudan African National Union (SANU)
30. Hon. Onyoti Adigo Nyikwec-Democratic Change (DC)