October 6, 2006 - (Upper Nile) - Ulang County in Upper Nile state and Akobo County in Jonglei state are disputing the fate of Barmach Payam, which borders both Counties.

Akobo County Commissioner Doyak Chol says Barmach Payam has been part of Akobo County since before the war. However, Speaking to Sudan radio service by phone on Wednesday, Ulang County Commissioner Duer Tut disputes this.

[Duer Tut:] "Commissioner Doyak of Akobo said that Barmach Payam belong to Akobo County. Barmach Payam is not part of Akobo County and it will never be Akobo County's Payam."

Mr. Tut explained that the Lou-Nuer community is free to settle in Barmach but under the administration of Ulang County.

Meanwhile, the Akobo county commissioner Doyak Chol says the final status of Barmach Payam will be settled through dialogue.

[Doyak Chol:] " Historically before the war Barmach belong to Lou Nuer. Whether Barmach Payam will be given to Lou Nuer or Jikany Nuer that is going to be resolved through dialogue in the level of Jonglei and Upper Nile state because we don't want anymore bloodshed."

Chol said the residents of Barmach Payam who have been displaced by war are still living in Lou-Nuer areas and are yet to return back.


6 October 2006 - (Upper Nile) - People who have been displaced by floods in Ulang County have been moved to the high lands following heavy rain fall in the last 3 months.

Speaking to Sudan Radio Service on phone from Ulang on Wednesday, Commissioner Duer Tut says they have deployed police forces to protect displaced people from cattle rustlers and wild animals.

[Duer Tut:] "We have deployed the police forces in the forest across the river to protect the community from Lou-Nuer cattle raiders and because the place was abandoned many years ago there are wild animals like hyenas and cheetahs who are attacking and eating people in broad day light."

He said they have started resettling people in Nyarkueth and Nyangore villages in Ulang County. The Commissioner added that about 9 hundred voluntary returnees have arrived to the area since April.