By Matik Kueth
A civil society activist on Tuesday sounded an alarm over the escalating tensions between communities in Duk and Twic East Counties of Jonglei State, calling on the government to urgently intervene to prevent further carnage.
In a statement, Bol Deng Bol, the Executive Director of Intrepid South Sudan (ISS) and Chairperson of the Jonglei Civil Society Network (JCSN), expressed grave concern over what he described as “a growing inclination towards more clashes between Duk and Twic East Counties, particularly in Biothagany fishing area.
He warned that without swift action, the situation could spiral into full-scale violence.
Old grievances, new flashpoint
The feud between Duk and Twic East dates back several years, often fueled by disputes over fishing grounds, cattle raiding, and traditional boundaries.
Despite past peace efforts spearheaded by local leaders and state authorities, recurring attacks have continued to claim lives and destroy livelihoods along the borders of the two counties.
Sources from the area say that Biothagany, a fishing zone rich in aquatic resources, has recently become a flashpoint as both sides accuse each other of encroachment. Residents have reportedly fled their homes amid fears of renewed clashes.
Social media fueling tensions
Bol’s statement pointed to hate speech and misinformation circulating on social media as a key driver of the worsening hostility.
“The ongoing discussions on social media and community events of the conflict, the suspicious mobilization, including the collective inaction by authorities, have unfortunately fueled hate speech, misinformation, disinformation, and provided conflict-breeding space. This is deeply worrying and disappointing,” Bol said.
He slammed the government’s perceived inaction, saying it has emboldened rival groups to continue mobilizing for war.
“The government’s reluctance over this issue has had an immense impact. His Excellency Governor Dr. Riek Gai Kok had initially committed himself to an amicable settlement of this issue. Unfortunately, today, his administration is watching with folded arms the communities in question butcher themselves perpetually,” he stated.
The activist appealed directly to national and state authorities to take two immediate steps to prevent further violence.
“I am appealing for two interventions that need immediate action. First, temporary deployment of neutral armed forces in Biothagany to stop possible clashes and, most importantly, open a page for a dialogue,” he stressed.
He added, “Second, convene grassroots consultative meetings to culminate in a peace mediation process, placing at the core the chiefs and youth, among other groups that are directly involved.”
He further emphasized that community-level dialogue must be prioritized to ensure a lasting peace, cautioning that continued inaction risks pushing the fragile Jonglei region deeper into instability.