NUER FOLKS CAUGHT UP IN A DEADLY CORNER
By: Simon Gatwech Pibor
A concern Nuer
Since the beginning of May this year, the Nuer people of Akobo Woreda (District) in Gambella Regional State of south western Ethiopia, have been displaced following armed attacks unleashed upon them by Lou-Nuer Tribesmen and Murle cattle rustlers, both originating from south Sudan, leaving the entire population destitute and stranded in a small strip of land along the Ethio-Sudan border. So far neither the Regional nor the Federal Governments has sent any relief assistance to the area.
The attacks which were launched almost simultaneously by the two groups of assailants, resulted in a widespread devastation never witnessed in that area. Early reports (later confirmed) indicate that more than ten people loss their lives and several others wounded. The assailants looted the entire livestock, upon which people depend for food, and grain. All the villages including the Woreda Council, the only school and clinic are burned down.
Consequently, the whole population which exceeds twenty thousands is forced to cramp into a small strip of land near the intersection between Akobo and Gilo Rivers. Gilo River has burst it banks in recent times resulting in a deadly flood in Jor Woreda.
Anyone familiar with the area can predict with certainty that it's only a matter of time before another tragedy strike the unfortunate victims. For one thing the area is small and swampy, therefore epidemics such as malaria, cholera and meningitis are likely to strike at anytime among these people who are already weakened by hunger. Secondly, the area is located where Gilo River merges with Akobo River and flow to Sudan. So, it will be a matter of time before these people are hit by flood, bigger than the one raging in Jor Woreda at the moment. Even worst they are still vulnerable to attacks by the same assailants.
Another tragedy is that these innocent victims can't migrate upwards to the regional capital Gambella, due to fear of being attacked by some hostile tribes along the way. So, neither staying in the area nor migrating to Gambella is an option. They are caught between the devil and deep blue sea--- A Deadly Corner indeed.
This is not the first time however, for the people of Akobo to be attacked by armed groups coming from southern Sudan. Between 1994 and 1995 the same Lou-Nuer gunmen attacked the area several times killing and wounding many, and also looted more than five thousands heads of cattle. But the Federal Defense Forces reacted quickly and were able to recover most of the stolen cattle. Relief aid arrived in the area relatively fast and the people were able to re- settle quickly.
What has compounded the current tragedy is the lack of response from the regional government as well as at the Federal level. It appears that no one care for the plight of these people. Whether they live or die is completely irrelevant for Okelo Nyigelo led Anyuak dominated Regional government.
But why didn't the Regional Government respond to the SOS call from people of Akobo ? If the disaster was beyond their capacity, why didn't they issue a formal SOS call to the Federal Government and Charity Organization? Is there any thing sinister in their silence? To answer these and others questions, one need to be familiar with the political landscape and the forces acting on the ground.
During the reign of Emperor Haileselassie, Gambella was a District under Illubabor province. The Dergue made it a region for the first time in 1989. However, Gambella assumes it current geography and self-rule only after the demise of the military regime in 1991.
Gambella is a home to five indigenous ethnic groups, i.e., the Nuer, Anyuak, Majangier, Opo and Komo. A considerable number of highland migrants also live in the region. Out of 181,862 (representing 89%) inhabitants counted during the 1995 census, 39.7% are Nuers and 27.5% Anyuaks. The remaining percentage is shared among the remaining ethnic groups. In terms of Woredas (Districts), the Nuer have two, while the Anyuaks control six, two of which were recently created, obviously to increase representation and dominance.
During the Dergue regime some few Anyuaks went to bush and wedged a low profile insurgency against the government. But never achieved any significant results. Later on, they formed Gambella Peoples Liberation Movement (GPLM). This group took the opportunity of authority vacuum created by collapse of the Dergue under the EPRDF military pressure, to control the regional power. However, instead of embracing all the inhabitants of the region, which they claimed to represent, the group led by the late Agua Alemu, started killing the Nuers to "settle old scores". Many prominent Nuers like Simon Chuol, Deng Dung, Biel Kaylech, Timothy Wang, John Chuol Gatkuoth, and many more, were murdered cold blooded by Individuals who walk the streets of Gambella town free men today. The remaining educated Nuers fled to Nuer land and adjoining southern Sudan.
Fearing for their lives, most stayed away till mid 1993. When they returned, found the Anyuak elite in firm control over the regional political power. Any attempt tried to rectify the anomalies was brutally suppressed. At time this led to violence and massacring of Nuer women and men. All these incidences have never been properly investigated and the culprits are left lose creating the impression that one can kill Nuers with impunity.
Though, the security situation in the region has since improved considerably, the Anyuak domination over their Nuer counterpart has rather deepened. Currently, the Anyuaks (though a minority) controls 52.7% of regional council seats against 34.5% for the majority Nuers. Anyuak elite exclusively holds all key government positions such as the Regional President, Security Chief, police, Attorney General and Judiciary. In such important positions of Government a Nuer is worth not more than a deputy. Even that the Anyuak ruling Click chooses who should represent the Nuers.
Using the government machinery, the Anyuak elite makes sure no development reaches the Nuer areas. In the last ten years only two schools and four health institutions were constructed in the entire Nuer land, while school and clinic buildings have almost saturated the Anyuak villages.
Despite the fact that the Nuer Woredas are prone to insecurity, largely due to their proximity to the civil war stricken southern Sudan, the regional government doesn't mind to strengthen the police force. Currently, the police force reflect Anyuak dominantion (more than 80% are Anyuaks) over others.
Even with such composition no one could have mind them if the police force were used for the good of the entire inhabitants of the region. But this has not been the case. Almost all the police personnel are stationed in Gambella town and Anyuak Woredas, with the Nuers left alone to cope with huge security problem in the border. So it is not far fetched to conclude that Gambella Regional Government stands for Anyuaks and nothing more.
The Nuer and the Anyuak belong to the Nilotic group and closely related to their cousins, the Dinka and Shilluk of southern Sudan. Both live on both sides of the Ethio-Sudan border and share many common cultures including 45% of their vocabulary.
The two ethnic groups have lived together since ancient times. Sometimes they had fights.One section of Nuer would fight another section of Anyuak. But all out war between them is a rare occurrence. Most of the time the two groups went along very well. Even at this time when the elite of the two are battling it out in the corridor of power in Gambella, the common men and women live alongside peacefully .
In the town, however, the situation is different. There is mutual mistrust between the elite of the two groups. While the Anyuaks think the Nuers are nomadic people bend to steal their land, the Nuers perceive the Anyuak as xenophobic and vicious people who can easily resort to violent to impose their will on others.
In reality, however, these perceptions and fears are largely unfounded. The two ethnic groups have lived side by side peacefully since ancient time. Despite occasional clashes here and there, a lots of intermarriages have taken place. Even during the turmoil years, between 1991 to 1995, two Anyuak enclaves, namely Pone (in Akobo Woreda) and Jiengmier in south Sudan were left alone. This is a clear indication that there is no animosity between ordinary people.
On the other hand, Gambella is a vast region compared to the number of its inhabitants. There is more than enough land for everybody. Likewise, the political arena is still not crowded due to relatively small number of educated people among the indigenous peoples. So there is room enough for everybody provided there is goodwill. If only these elite could stop squabbling among themselves and devise means of equitable sharing of power, then a bright prospect is there to develop the region neglected for too long by the previous regimes. However change cannot come with the current perception, attitude and practice of the Regional Government.
Folks, I believe I have given you enough facts and the picture of the political landscape to enable you draw conclusions with regards to our main theme, why have the Regional Government kept silent in the wake of this terrible tragedy which has befallen upon the people of Akobo.
For sure the answer is, the Anyuak dominated Regional Government in Gambella doesn't care for the lives of Nuer people. They would rather see them die en masse or disperse into adjoining southern Sudan land, than extending a helping hand. That is why they don't even bother to inform the Central Government and Charity organizations formally. All this is done in the name of maintaining Anyuak dominance.
I have to quickly add that the partisan policy of the Regional Government is now too apparent in the wake of flood disaster in Jor Woreda. Because the folks affected are Anyuaks, the Regional Government swung to action quickly by sending relief aid to the area ( little they had in stores) , and wiring a SOS message to the Federal Government as well as charity organizations.
Here I want to make something abundantly clear. I am not against Jor's flood victims getting assistance. This is besides the point. The crack of the matter is the Regional Government have not only ignored Akobo victims, but also hidden the tragedy from public for the last three months. Now we see them doing every thing possible for their folks. Why the double standard? Can any body make something out of it? For me this behavior is neither a coincidence nor due to incompetence, but part of the wider ant-Nuer policy pursued by the Anyuak dominated Regional Government for the last ten years.
The Federal Government also shares some blame, because I am reliably informed some officials knew about the tragedy, but prepared to keep silent. Perhaps they don't value much the lives of the Nuer people. But they (officials) should be reminded that, like any other citizen of Ethiopian, youth volunteers from same community had paid ultimate sacrifice for their country during the recent war with Eritrea. These people who have given so much for their country expect assistance when they are in trouble. Needless to remind these officials that it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to protect all the citizens from external attacks.
Whatever the reasons may be for their silence, these officials are doing a disservice to the whole country. Because the area in question includes large chunk of Malute (pronounce Maluth in Nuer) depression in which a foreign company has just signed a contract to prospect oil. In this connection the area has become strategic for the whole country. Should the displaced victims decide to evacuate the area (and is likely if no aid comes) the vacuum will be filled by forces hostile to the central government, which will make the oil prospecting more difficult, if not impossible.
So on behalf of these innocent victims, I appeal to the Federal Government and charity organizations concern to send relief aid to the area and rescue the people of Akobo who are abandoned by their own Regional Government. If no aid reaches them soon, they will start dying en masse. For sake of humanity please act Quickly by sending food, shelter materials, medicine, mosquito nets and fishing equipments to the area.
Thanks
Simon Gatwech Pibor
A concern Nuer
August 17,2001.
[Opinions in this article are solely that of the writer.]