Rising Tension Returns to Jonglei Waters
At 4 a.m. Friday, gunfire cracked across Bothagany Island, a fishing ground wedged between South Sudan’s Duk and Twic East counties. Witnesses report dozens feared dead after armed youth from Twic East confronted Hol youth from Duk, reigniting a dispute that has simmered for years.
County Commissioner John Chatim Ruei from Duk confirmed the clash, stating that his youth repulsed the attackers. Exact casualty figures remain unclear, yet the brief battle underscores how fragile informal ceasefires around Jonglei waterways have become.
Contested Ground and Unfinished Resolutions
Bothagany and nearby Lang were flagged as neutral zones in earlier mediation, with government pledging to deploy protection forces and evacuate civilians. Yet fishing camps never emptied, leaving rival youth in daily contact—and continual risk of sparks.
Duk’s commissioner concedes the security plan fell short, but insists his side broke no truce by remaining. Twic East commissioner Juac Arok Juach says patchy phone networks still hide details, declining to confirm the clash until reports reach his office.
Civil Society Sounds Alarm on Hate Speech
Activist Bol Deng Bol, head of INTREPID South Sudan, warned that online taunts, community rallies and ‘suspicious mobilization’ preceded the latest bloodshed. According to him, social media echo chambers recycle misinformation, entrenching hostility far from any official peace table.
He lamented what he views as government hesitation, recalling Governor Riek Gai Kok’s earlier commitment to a settlement. In his words, authorities are ‘watching the communities… with folded arms,’ a posture he believes emboldens fringe fighters.
Neutral Forces and Dialogue Urged for Bothagany
Civil society groups now call for a temporary deployment of neutral national troops on the island, paired with grassroots consultations that could mature into a formal mediation process. They argue a visible buffer would cool tempers long enough for elders to seek compromise.
For many residents, the fishing grounds represent livelihoods as much as territory. Absent swift intervention, another dawn assault could deepen grievances and widen Jonglei’s fault lines, making future reconciliation harder and more costly.