South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
Nuer spiritual leader Gai Machiek has decided to vacate Warrap State following accusation that he was fomenting violence in Warrap State.
William Wol Mayom, the Warrap State minister of information told The Dawn on Monday that Machiek took the decision after being convinced by Gen. Santino Deng Wol, the chief of defense of the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) and Kuol Muor Muor, the Governor of Warrap State.
‘’The spiritual leader Gai Machiek who was expelled by presidential decree on 16 January, 2024 has been convinced to peacefully move away from Warrap State to another State of his choice, he has finally agreed to move from Ajak Kuach to Pan Nyok of Twic County,’’ said Mayom.
‘’Since he has huge followers and cattle, he maybe there (Pan Nyok) for a while to assess the state of his choice, the reason for the stopover in Pan Nyok area of Twic County is for him to look for the State of his choice apart from Warrap State,’’ he disclosed.
President Salva Kiir ordered Machiek to evacuate Warrap State following deadly intermittent communal violence between Twic Mayardit community of Warrap State and Ngok Dinka of Abyei Administrative Area.
Machiek who hails from neighboring Mayom County of Unity State, sought refuge in Ajak Kuach area of Twic County in Warrap State, where he has been accused of involvement in communal conflict between Twic-Mayardit community and Ngok Dinka of Abyei Administrative Area.
The two communities have been contesting for years the ownership of a strip of land in the Aneet border area, which separates the two communities.
Abyei Administrative Area remains a contested area, between South Sudan and its neighbor Sudan which is currently mired in conflict since April 15 2023.
